ISLAND OF CEYLON. 203 



Ceylon. The monftrous fpecies called the Ternate is very fre- 

 quent here. 



The Matiati I have mentioned at page 183, and the water 

 elephant feems no more than the Dugung^ N° 469. 



Many of the above mentioned animals are, in all probability, 

 common to the continent of India^ and doubtleflly many more 

 which have efcaped the notice of travellers : there is all the 

 appearance of Ceylon having been united with the continent ; 

 and that the g^lph of Manaar was once folid land. The Mal- 

 dives^ and Laccadives, feem likewife to have been fragments of 

 the once far extended continent. 



Birds, which have the locomotive power fo flrongly in their Birds. 

 formation, have a lefs chance to be local than the preceding 

 clafs. The ornithology of my friend Latham, is as unerring 

 a guide, as human imperfedion can produce. In refpedl to the 

 birds, I fhall here, and elfewhere, only point out thofe on whom 

 nature hath impreffed any charadlers worthy of philofophic 

 attention. 



To Ihun prolixity, I avoid giving (in general) defcriptions 

 of either beails or birds. In refpecl to the firfl, I refer en- 

 tirely to the third edition of my Hi/lory of ^ladrupeds, in 

 which I flatter myfelf the reader will find them amply treated. 

 As to the general enumeration of birds, it will be found at page 

 67 of my Indian Zoology, Vvith references to Mr. Latham-, or, 

 in cafes where any fpecies are common to Great Britain, to the 

 Briti/h Zoology. The lift of the known quadrupeds of India, 

 its filhes, reptiles, and infei?ts, are alfo given in the fame 

 work. 



D d 3 There 



