128 



ZOOLOGY. 



[Paet II. 



The birds and rarer vertebrata of the island were 

 thus compared with their peninsular congeners, and a 

 tolerable knowledge of those belonging to the island, so 

 far as regards the higher classes of animals, has been 

 the result. The example so set has been perseveringly 

 followed by Mr. E. L. Layard and Dr. Kelaart, and in- 

 finite credit is due to Mr. Blyth for the zealous and 

 untuing energy with which he has devoted his attention 

 and leisure to the identification of the various interesting 

 species forwarded from Ceylon, and to their description in 

 the Calcutta Journal. To him, and to the gentleman 

 I have named, we are mainly indebted for whatever 

 accurate knowledge we now possess of the zoology of the 

 colony. 



The mammalia, birds, and reptiles received their first 

 scientific description in an able work pubHshed recently 

 by Dr. Kelaart of the army medical staff \ which is by 

 far the most valuable that has yet appeared on the 

 Singhalese fauna. Co-operating with him, Mr. Layard 

 has supplied a fund of information especially in ornitho- 

 logy and conchology. The zoophytes and Crustacea have 

 been investigated by Professor Harvey, who visited 

 Ceylon for that purpose in 1852, and by Professor 

 Schmarda, of the University of Prague, who was lately 

 sent there for a similar object. From the united labouis 

 of these gentlemen and others interested in the same 

 pursuits, we may hope at an early day to obtain such 

 a knowledge of the zoology of Ceylon, as may to some 

 extent compensate for the long indifference of the govern- 

 ment officers. 



I. QuADRUMANA. 1 Moiikeys. — To a stranger in the 

 tropics, among the most attractive creatures in the forests 

 are the troops of monkeys, which career in cease- 

 less chase among tlie loftiest trees. In Ceylon there 



^ Prodroinus Fauna; Zeylanicce ; 

 heitu/ Ccmfr ill lit ions to the Zoology of 

 Ceylon, by F. Kelaaet, Esrj[., M.D", 

 F.L.S., &;c. &c. 2 vols. Colombo 

 and I.oudon, 1852. Mr. Davy, of the 

 Medical Stalf, brother to Sir Ilum- 



phiy, published in 1821 his Account 

 of the Interior of Ceylon and its In- 

 fiahitants, which contains the earliest 

 notices of the natural history of the 

 island, and especially of the Ophidian 

 reptiles. 



