INTRODUCTION. 



ix 



Dr. Kelaart 1 and Mr. Edgar L. Layard, as well as 

 from officers of the Ceylon Civil Service; the Hon. 

 Gerald C. Talbot, Mr. C. E. Buller, Mr. Mercer, 

 Mr. Morris, Mr. Whiting, Major Skinner, and Mr. 

 Mitford. 



66 Before venturing to commit these chapters of my 

 work to the press, I have had the advantage of having 

 portions of them read by Professor Huxley, Mr. Moore, 

 of the East India House Museum ; Mr. E. Patterson, 

 F.E.S., author of the Introduction to Zoology ; and by 

 Mr. Adam White, of the British Museum ; to each of 

 whom I am exceedingly indebted for the care they have 

 bestowed. In an especial degree I have to acknowledge 

 the kindness of Dr. J. E. Gray, F.E.S., for valuable 

 additions and corrections in the list of the Ceylon Eep- 

 tilia ; and to Professor Faraday for some notes on the 

 nature and qualities of the (( Serpent Stone," 2 submitted 

 to him. 



" The extent to which my observations on the Ele- 

 phant have been carried, requires some explanation. 

 The existing notices of this noble creature are chiefly 

 devoted to its habits and capabilities in captivity ; and 

 very few works, with which I am acquainted, contain 

 illustrations of its instincts and functions when wild 

 in its native woods. Opportunities for observing the 

 latter, and for collecting facts in connection with them, 

 are abundant in Ceylon; and from the moment of my 



1 It is with deep regret that I accomplished gentleman, which oc- 

 have to record the death of this curred in 1860. 2 See p. 312. 



