Bibliographical Notice. 451 



value. Regarding the fauna of Ceylon, little has been published in 

 any collective form, with the exception of a volume by Dr. Kelaart, 

 entitled ' Prodromus Faun?e Zeilanicpe,'. several valuable papers by 

 Mr. Edgar L. Layard, Mr. J. Nietner, and Dr. Kelaart in this 

 Journal, and also some very imperfect lists appended to Pridham's 

 compiled account of the island. Knox, in the charming narra- 

 tive of his captivity, published in the reign of Charles II., has 

 devoted a chapter to the animals of Ceylon ; and Dr. Davy has 

 described the principal reptiles ; but, with these exceptions, the sub- 

 ject is almost untouched in works relating to the colony. Yet a 

 more than ordinary interest attaches to the inquiry, since Ceylon, 

 instead of presenting, as is generally assumed, an identity between 

 its fauna and that of Southern India, exhibits a remarkable diversity 

 of type taken in connexion with the limited area over which they are 

 distributed. The island, in fact, may be regarded as the centre of a 

 geographical circle possessing within itself forms whose allied spe- 

 cies radiate far into the temperate regions of the north, as well as 

 into Africa, Australia, and the isles of the Indian Archipelago. " In 

 the chapters that I have devoted to its elucidation," says Sir James, 

 " I have endeavoured to interest others in the subject by describing 

 my own impressions and observations with fidelity and with as much 

 accuracy as may be expected from a person possessing, as I do, no 

 greater knowledge of zoology and the other physical sciences than is 

 ordinarily possessed by any educated gentleman. It was my good 

 fortune, however, in my journeys to have the companionship of 

 friends familiar with many branches of natural science — the late Dr. 

 Gardner, Mr.EdgarL. Layard (an accomplished zoologist), and others; 

 and I was thus enabled to collect on the spot many interesting 

 facts relative to the structure and habits of the numerous tribes of 

 animals. These, chastened by the corrections of my fellow-travellers, 

 and established by the examination of collections made in the colony 

 and by subsequent comparison with specimens contained in museums 

 at home, I have ventured to submit as faithful outlines of the fauna 

 of Ceylon." 



Such is Sir James Tennent's modest introduction to the work 

 before us ; and most efficiently and delightfully has he accomplished 

 his task : careful research and profound scholarship give value to 

 every page ; and the accuracy of his descriptions is surpassed only by 

 the elegance of his language and the felicity of his illustrations. 

 We will, however, as we lightly skim through the book as far as it 

 belongs to our own subject, briefly indicate the scenes which he 

 describes. 



" Ceylon, from whatever direction it may be approached, unfolds 

 a scene of loveliness and grandeur unsurpassed, if it be rivalled, by 

 any land in the universe. The traveller from Bengal, leaving be- 

 hind the melancholy delta of the Ganges and the torrid coast of 

 Coromandel, or the adventurer from Europe, recently inured to the 

 sands of Egypt and the scorched headlands of Arabia, is alike en- 

 tranced by the vision of beauty which expands before him as the 

 island rises from the sea, — its lofty mountains covered by luxuriant 



29* 



