I 
313 Insects of Ceylon, 
tlian four inches long, and having the body covered with 
thick black hair. The v^ebs which it makes are strong eiiouo-h 
to entangle and hold even small birds, which form its usual 
prey. 
Tliere is an insect found here, which resembles an immense 
overgrown beetle. It is called by us a carpenter, fi-oni its 
boring large holes in timber, of a regular form, and to the 
depth of several feet, in whicli when finished it takes up its 
habitation. 
Fish of every sort in great abundance are found in the lakes 
and rivers of Ceylon, as well as in the surrounding seas. Those 
found in the fresh water are much more remarkable for theii\ 
vast numbers than their quality. The mullet however is very 
good, and perhaps the best of the fresh-water fish. ISTone of 
the species, as far as I could lean, are peculiar to Ceylon ; but 
ail common to the warm latitudes, though differing from the Euro- 
pean. One circumstance has often struck me with astonishment^ 
that in every pond or muddy pool, casually supplied with rainwa- 
ter, or even only recently formed, and entirely unconnected with 
any other water, swarms of fishes are continually found. The only 
explanation which it appears possible to give of this pheno- 
menon is, that the spawn is by some unknown process car- 
ried up with the rain into the sky, and then let down with 
it upon the earth in a condition immediately to become 
alive. 
Many excellent kinds of fish are caught all around the coasts 
of the island, and form a principal article both of the traffic 
and food of the natives. 
