SOI 
Quadrupeds of Ceylon. 
face. There is also a large greenish monkey which inhabits the 
woods here. The rilloiu is a very large species, not less than 
•our larger dogs. It is distinguished by long parted hair lying 
fiat in its forehead. This species is extremely numerous, and 
a great annoyance to the corn fields and gardens, which they 
rob in the face of the owner, while they deride him by aiitick 
gestures. 
A variety of porcupines, racoons, armadilloes, squirrels, and 
mungooses, are found in Ceylon. The porcupines are easily 
caught, and are frequently kept tame in the houses. 
The squirrels are very destructive to the gardens, which they 
invade in multitudes and devour vast quantities of the fruit. 
The black squirrel of Ceylon lias the nose red, and is remark- 
able for being three times as large as our common squirrel, and 
for having a tail twice as long as its body. The small striped 
squirrel is very playful, and is constantly seen squeaking and 
skipping about among the trees. 
The Indian ichneumon is a small creature, in appearance 
between a weazel and a mungoose. It is of infinite use to the 
natives fiom its inveterate enmity to snakes, which would 
otherwise render every footstep of the traveller dangerous. The 
proofs of sagacity which I have seen in this little animal are 
truly surprising, and afford a beautiful instance of the wisdom 
with which Providence has fitted the powers of every animal 
to its particular situation on the globe. This diminutive crea- 
ture, on seeing a snake ever so large, will instantly dart on it 
and seize it by the throat, provided he finds himself in an open 
place where he has an opportunity of running to a certain 
herb, which he knows instinctively to be an antidote against 
the poison of the bite, if he should happen to receive one. I 
