320 THE ZOOLOGIST, 



Of the 325 species of -birds recognised in Ceylon, 38 are 

 stated to be peculiar to the island, and of these Dr. Walters 

 gives a very brief account. When we call to mind Major Legge's 

 splendid quarto work on the Birds of Ceylon, Dr. Walters's 

 account naturally appears meagre in the extreme ; but then it is 

 not intended for the professed ornithologist, but rather for the 

 general reader who is contented for the moment with a merely 

 superficial glance at the avifauna of the country through which 

 he is being conducted. 



Exaggerated descriptions of the Keptiles of Ceylon have from 

 time to time found their way into print from the reports of 

 imaginative and too credulous travellers ; but when all allowance 

 has been made for " snake stories," the fact remains that the 

 presence of snakes form a distinct drawback to the pleasure of 

 living in many parts of the island. Having made personal 

 acquaintance with Australian and Tasmanian snakes, the author 

 considers that they cannot compare with those of Ceylon either 

 for number or venom. He repeats a curious story about the 

 Naja-kalu, or Cobra-stone, which the reptile is said to carry 

 about in its mouth for the purpose of attracting fire-flies, on 

 which it feeds. One of such stones having been produced by a 

 native, it was found by an expert, Professor Hensoldt, to be a 

 water-worn yellow pebble, oval and flattened, and emitting a 

 green phosphorescent light, and pronounced to be a rare variety 

 of fluor spar known as " clophane," a mineral so sensitive that it 

 will shine when merely warmed by the hand. " There seems to 

 be little doubt," says Dr. Walters (p. 181), "that the Naja-kalu 

 is used by the Cobra as a decoy. All it has to do is to deposit 

 the stone, and the attracted fire-flies come within reach. Perhaps 

 also, as its own sight is feeble, the shining stone may serve as a 

 sort of range-finder." 



In subsequent pages our author deals with Sea-snakes, Croco- 

 diles, Lizards, Iguanas, Frogs, Fishes, Insects of various orders, 

 Spiders, and Scorpions ; truly a wide range of subjects, on none 

 of which he has space to dwell at any length. But his remarks 

 are very pleasantly written, and if not always quite accurate from 

 the naturalist's point of view, they serve at all events to direct 

 the attention of travellers, and even stay-at-home readers, to some 

 of the many beautiful and curious productions to be met with in i 

 that remarkable island which has been named " the land of 

 palms and pearls." 



