323 



CHAP. X. 



FISHES. 



Hitherto no branch of the zoology of Ceylon has been 

 so imperfectly investigated as its Ichthyology. Little 

 has been done in the examination and description of its 

 fishes, especially those which frequent the rivers and 

 inland waters. Mr. Bennett, who was for some years 

 employed in the Civil Service, directed his attention to 

 the subject, and published in 1830 some portions of a 

 projected work on the marine fishes of the island l 3 but 

 it never proceeded beyond the description of thirty in- 

 dividuals. The great work of Cuvier and Valenciennes 2 

 particularises about one hundred species, specimens 

 of which were procured from Ceylon by Eeynard, Les- 

 chenault and other correspondents; but of these not 

 more than half a dozen belong to fresh water. 



The fishes of the coast, so far as they have been ex- 

 amined, present few that are not in all probability 

 common to the seas of Ceylon and India. A series of 

 drawings, including upwards of six hundred species and 

 varieties of Ceylon fish, all made from recently-captured 

 specimens, has been submitted to Professor Huxley, and 



1 A Selection of the most Be- J. W. Bennett, Esq. London, 

 markable and Interesting Fishes 1830. 



found on the Coast of Ceylon. By 2 Histoire Naturelle des Poissons* 



y 2 



