158 ZOOLOGY. [Part II. 



in troops of tlie axis. Deer's horns are an article of 

 export from Ceylon, and considerable quantities are 

 annually sent to the United Kingdom. 



VII. Pachydermata. The Elepliant — The elephant 

 and the wild boar, the Singhalese "waloora," are the 

 only representatives of the pachydermatous order. The 

 latter, which differs in no respect from the wild boar of 

 India, is found in droves in all parts of the island where 

 vegetation and water are abundant. The elephant, the 

 lord paramount of the Ceylon forests, is to be met with 

 in every district, on the confines of the woods, in whose 

 depths he finds concealment and shade during the hours 

 when the sun is high, and from which he emerges only 

 at twihght to wend his way towards the rivers and tanks, 

 where he luxuriates till dawn, when he again seeks the 

 retirement of the deep forests. This noble animal fills 

 so dignified a place both in the zoology and oeconomy of 

 Ceylon, and his habits in a state of nature have been so 

 much misunderstood, that I shall devote a separate 

 section to his defence from misrepresentation, and to an 

 exposition of what, from observation and experience, I 

 believe to be his genuine character when free in his 

 native domains. 



VIII. Cetacea. — Among the Cetacea the occur- 

 rence of the Dugong ^ on various points of the coast, 

 and especiaUy on the western side of the island, will be 

 noticed elsewhere ; and whales are so frequently seen 

 that they have been captured within sight of Colombo, 

 and more than once their carcases, after having been 

 flinched by the whalers, have floated on shore near the 

 hght-house, tainting the atmosphere within the fort by 

 their rapid decomposition. 



From this sketch of the Mammaha it will be seen 

 that, in its general features, this branch of the Fauna 

 bears a striking resemblance to that of Southern India, 

 although many of the larger animals of the latter are 



^ Halicore dugong, F. Cuv. 



