354 REVIEWS — NATURAL HISTORY OF CEYLON. 



yards broad, and about half a mile long, was surrounded by a line of tall forest- 

 trees, whose branches stretched above its margin. The sun had not yet risen, 

 when we perceived some white objects in large numbers on the tops of the 

 trees ; and as we came nearer, we discovered that a vast colony of pelicans 

 had formed their settlement and breeding-place in this solitary retreat. They 

 literally covered the trees in hundreds ; and their heavy nests, like those of the 

 swan, constructed of large sticks, forming great platforms, were sustained by 

 the horizontal branches. Each nest contained three eggs, rather larger than 

 those of a goose ; and the male bird stood placidly beside the female as she sat 

 upon them. 



" Nor was this all ; along with the pelicans prodigious numbers of other 

 water-birds had selected this for their dwelling-place, and covered the trees in 

 thousands, standing on the topmost branches ; tall flamingoes, herons, egrets, 

 storks, ibises, and other waders. We had disturbed them thus early, before 

 their habitual hour for betaking themselves to their fishing-fields. By degrees, 

 as the light increased, we saw them beginning to move upon the trees ; they 

 looked around them on every side, stretched their awkward legs behind them, 

 extended their broad wings, gradually rose in groups, and slowly soared away 

 in the direction of the sea-shore." 



We must give our readers a specimen of what is said of Ceylon 

 reptiles ; but in the abundance of curious and entertaining matter, 

 we are at a loss how to choose. — What follows relates to the night 

 lizards or geckoes : — 



"The most familiar and attractive of the lizard class are the Geckoes, that 

 frequent the sitting-rooms, and being furnished with pads to each toe, they are 

 enabled to ascend perpendicular walls and adhere to glass and ceilings. Being 

 nocturnal in their habits, the pupil of the eye, instead of being circular as in 

 the diurnal species, is linear and vertical like that of the cat. As soon as 

 evening arrives, the geckoes are to be seen in every house in keen and crafty 

 pursuit of their prey ; emerging from the chinks and recesses where they conceal 

 themselves during the day, to search for insects that then retire to settle for the 

 night. In a boudoir where the ladies of my family spent their evenings, one of 

 these familiar and amusing little creatures had its hiding-place behind a gilt 

 picture frame. Punctually as the candles were lighted, it made its appearance 

 on the wall to be fed with its accustomed crumbs ; and if neglected, it reiterated 

 a sharp, quick call of chic, chic, chic, till attended to. It was of a delicate grey 

 colour, tinged with pink ; and having by accident fallen on a work-table, it 

 fled, leaving part of its tail behind it, which, however, it re-produced within 

 less than a month. This faculty of reproduction is doubtless designed to enable 

 the creature to escape from its assailants : the detaching of the limb is evidently 

 its own act; and it is observable, that when reproduced, the tail generally 

 exhibits some variation from the previous form, the diverging spines being 

 absent, the new portion covered with small square uniform scales placed in a 

 cross series, and the scuta below being seldom so distinct as in the original 



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