Chap. I.] ZOOLOGY OF CEYLON AND INDIA. 63 



and an orange-coloured ichneumon l , before unknown. 

 There are also two squirrels 2 that have not as yet 

 been discovered elsewhere, (one of them belonging to 

 those equipped with a parachute 3 ,) as well as some local 

 varieties of the palm squirrel (Sciurus penicillatus, 

 Leach). 41 



But the Ceylon Mammalia, besides wanting a number 

 of minor animals found in the Indian peninsula, cannot 

 boast such a ruminant as the majestic Graur 5 , which 

 inhabits the great forests from Cape Comorin to the 

 Himalaya ; and, providentially, the island is equally free 

 of the formidable tiger and the ferocious Wolf of Hin- 

 dustan. The Hyena and Cheetah 6 , common in Southern 

 India, are unknown in Ceylon; and though abundant 

 in deer, the island possesses no example of the Antelope 

 or the Gazelle. 



Amongst the Birds of Ceylon, the same abnormity is 

 apparent. About thirty-eight species will be presently 

 particularised 7 , which, although some of them may here- 

 after be discovered to have a wider geographical range, 

 are at present believed to be unknown in continental 

 India. I might further extend this enumeration, by in- 

 cluding the Cheela eagle of Ceylon, which^ although I 

 have placed it in my list as identical with the Uematornis 

 cheela of the Dekkan, is, I have since been assured, a 

 different bird, and is most probably the Falco bido of 



1 Herpestes fulvescens, Kela- Ceylon. Dr. Templeton has no- 

 AMT, Prod. Faun. Zeylan., App.p.42. ticed a little shrew (Corsira pur- 



2 Sciurus Tennentii, Layard. purascens, Mag. Nat. Hist. 1855, 



3 Sciuropterus Layardi, Kelaart. p. 238) at Neuera-ellia, not as yet 



4 There is a, rat found only in the observed elsewhere. 



Cinnamon Gardens at Colombo, 3 Bos cavifrons, Hodgs. ; B. fron- 



Mus Ceylonus, Kelaart; and a talis, Lamb. 



mouse which Dr. Kelaart disco- 6 Felis jubata, Schreb. 



vered at Trincomalie, M. fulvidi- 7 See Chapter on the Birds of 



ventris, Blyth, both peculiar to Ceylon. 



