[Footnote 2:  Journ.  Asiat.  Soc.  Bengal, vol. xv. p. 280, 314.]

The mammalia, birds, and reptiles received their first scientific description in an able work published in 1852 by Dr. Kelaart of the army medical staff[1], which is by far the most valuable that has yet appeared on the Singhalese fauna.  Co-operating with him, Mr. Layard has supplied a fund of information especially in ornithology and conchology.  The zoophytes and Crustacea have I believe been partially investigated by Professor Harvey, who visited Ceylon in 1852, and more recently by Professor Schmarda, of the University of Prague.  From the united labours of these gentlemen and others interested in the same pursuits, we may hope at an early day to obtain such a knowledge of the zoology of Ceylon as will to some extent compensate for the long indifference of the government officers.

[Footnote 1:  Prodromus Faunae Zeylanicae; being Contributions to the Zoology of Ceylon, by F. KELAART, Esq., M.D., F.L.S., &c. &c. 2 vols.  Colombo and London, 1852.]

[Illustration:  CEYLON MONKEYS.

1. Presbytes cephalopterus. 2. P. thersites 3. P.  Priamus 4. Macacus pileatus]

I. QUADRUMANA. 1. Monkeys.—­To a stranger in the tropics, among the most attractive creatures in the forests are the troops of monkeys that career in ceaseless chase among the loftiest trees.  In Ceylon there are five species, four of which belong to one group, the Wanderoos, and the other is the little graceful grimacing rilawa[1], which is the universal pet and favourite of both natives and Europeans.  The Tamil conjurors teach it to dance, and in their wanderings carry it from village to village, clad in a grotesque dress, to exhibit its lively performances.  It does not object to smoke tobacco.  The Wanderoo is too grave and melancholy to be trained to these drolleries.

[Footnote 1:  Macacus pileatus, Shaw and Desmarest.  The “bonneted Macaque” is common in the south and west; it is replaced on the neighbouring coast of the Peninsula of India by the Toque, M. radiatus, which closely resembles it in size, habit, and form, and in the peculiar appearance occasioned by the hairs radiating from the crown of the head.  A spectacled monkey is said to inhabit the low country near to Bintenne; but I have never seen one brought thence.  A paper by Dr. TEMPLETON, in the Mag.  Nat.  Hist. n. s. xiv. p. 361, contains some interesting facts relative to the Rilawa of Ceylon.]

KNOX, in his captivating account of the island, gives an accurate description of both; the Rilawas, with “no beards, white faces, and long hair on the top of their heads, which parteth and hangeth down like a man’s, and which do a deal of mischief to the corn, and are so impudent that they will come into their gardens and eat such fruit as grows there.  And the Wanderoos, some as large as our English spaniel dogs, of a darkish grey colour, and black faces with great white beards round from ear to ear, which makes them show just like old men.  This sort does but little mischief, keeping in the woods, eating only leaves and buds of trees, but when they are catched they will eat anything."[1]