CEYLON DEER. 
141 
The Rajah continued in conversation with us for 
some time, and when he dismissed us, invited us to 
repeat our visit whenever it might be agreeable. On 
the following morning we strolled into a sort of park, in 
which he had a great number of curious animals, and 
among these were two small deer from Ceylon, the 
most beautiful little creatures I had ever seen. They 
were about the size of a fox, of a deep reddish brown, 
the body covered with bright spots, which gave them 
quite a refined beauty, as if they were creatures fit only 
to be the pets of royalty. This species of deer is the 
smallest of the cervine tribe, and has no horns, in some 
respects corresponding with the Cervus Guineensis of 
Linnseus. They abound in Ceylon, where they are 
taken in traps, and disposed of on the coast for a mere 
trifle. It is the most exquisitely formed creature that 
can be imagined, its small taper legs being scarcely 
larger than a lady’s finger. Its flesh is esteemed a par- 
ticular delicacy, and remarkably wholesome. These 
tiny animals are caught in great numbers in the interior 
of Ceylon, and almost daily taken to Columbo and 
other towns, where they are sold for about two shillings. 
On the peninsula they are esteemed a rarity, and are 
frequently purchased father for the exquisite sym- 
metry of their forms than for the delicacy of their 
flesh, which, however, is far superior to that of any 
other deer. The Rajah had several, and highly 
valued them, having a great fancy for animals of 
all kinds. Those we saw were quite tame, allow- 
ing us to approach within a few yards of them 
without appearing in the slightest degree disturbed 
by our proximity. They are called the moose-deer 
