INTRODUCTION. XXXlll 



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 examina- 

 tion of collections made in the colony, and by subse- 

 quent comparison with specimens contained in museums 

 at home, I have ventured to submit as faithful outlines 

 of the/azm<rt>f Ceylon. 



The sections descriptive of the several classes are 

 accompanied by lists, prepared with the assistance of 

 scientific friends, showing the extent to which each 

 particular branch had been investigated by naturalists, 

 up to the period of my departure from Ceylon at the 

 close of 1849. These, besides their inherent interest, 

 will, I trust, stimulate others to engage in the same 

 pursuit, by exhibiting chasms, which it remains for 

 future industry and research to fill up ; and the 

 study of the zoology of Ceylon may thus serve as 

 a preparative for that of Continental India, embracing, 

 as the former does, much that is common to both, as 

 well as possessing a fauna peculiar to the island, that in 

 itself will amply repay more extended scrutiny. 



From these lists have been excluded all species 

 regarding the authenticity of which reasonable doubts 

 could be entertained 1 , and of some of them, a very 

 few have been printed in italics, in order to denote the 

 desirability of more minute comparison with well deter- 

 mined specimens in the great national depositories be- 

 fore finally incorporating them with the Singhalese 

 catalogues. 



1 An exception occurs in the list 

 of shells, prepared by Mr. STLVANUS 

 II AN LET, in which some whose loca- 



VOL. I. ] 



lities are doubtful have been ad- 

 mitted for reasons adduced. (See 

 Vol. I. p. 234.) 



