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JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART IL 



natives say that there are two distinct species, one large and 

 red, the other smaller and dark, but I have not been able to 

 verify this. Two varieties of the mungoose are to be seen in 

 every piece of open jungle ; they prove destructive to poultry, 

 as clo wild-cats and civets. The manis, or scaly ant-eater, I 

 have met with on several occasions. It is used as food. The 

 rivers and tanks abound with crocodiles, of which there appear 

 to be two species, one attaining a length of eighteen or twenty 

 feet, and formidable to men and cattle, the other seldom exceed- 

 ing eight or ten feet, and perfectly harmless when uninjured. 

 Both are naturally timid and fear the face of man. Numerous 

 species of smaller lizards are found. That commonly known 

 tinder the name of iguana is used as food, and its skin is 

 converted into shoes. It is hunted with dogs trained for that 

 purpose. 



The forests contain numerous and beautiful birds and insects, 

 many yet undescribed ; but of these, for reasons already given, 

 it would be premature to say anything at present. 



It may be mentioned here that at Kalpitiya (or Calpentyn 

 as it is often written) a considerable quantity of becke-de-mer 

 is annually prepared and sent to Jaffna for exportation to the 

 Malay Peninsula and China. It consists simply of the dried 

 bodies of a species of Eolotkuria (sea cucumber), which is 

 found in large quantities along the oozy shores of the Gulf. 

 They are picked up at ebb tide. When taken into the hand the 

 muscular contraction of the thick leathery integument is so 

 strong, that a great portion of the viscera is frequently 

 forcibly protruded. If this does not occur, the animals are 

 opened, and, after embowelling, boiled for a couple of hours till 

 quite soft, and then dried on the beach if the weather is favour- 

 able ; under other circumstances, in close huts by means of 

 fires. The price on the spot is about Zs. 9d. per 1000, and this 

 quantity can easily be collected by two men during one ebb 

 tide. 



