viii 



INTKODUCTION. 



" The sections descriptive of the several classes are 

 accompanied by lists, prepared with the assistance of 

 scientific friends, showing the extent to which each par- 

 ticular 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 in- 

 dustry 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 possess- 

 ing 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 * 5 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-de- 

 termined specimens in the great national depositories 

 before finally incorporating them with the Singhalese 

 catalogues. 



" In the labour of collecting and verifying the facts 

 embodied in these sections, I cannot too warmly ex- 

 press my thanks for the aid I have received from 

 gentlemen interested in similar studies in Ceylon : from 



1 An exception occurs in the list lities are doubtful have been ad- 

 of shells, prepared by Mr. Sylvanus mitted for reasons adduced. (See 

 Hanley, in which some whose loca- p. 387.) 



