Coecilia.—­The rocky jungle, bordering the higher coffee estates, provides a safe retreat for a very singular animal, first introduced to the notice of European naturalists about a century ago by Linnaeus, who gave it the name Coecilia glutinosa, to indicate two peculiarities manifest to the ordinary observer—­an apparent defect of vision, from the eyes being so small and embedded as to be scarcely distinguishable; and a power of secreting from minute pores in the skin a viscous fluid, resembling that of snails, eels, and some salamanders.  Specimens are rare in Europe owing to the readiness with which it decomposes, breaking down into a flaky mass in the spirits in which it is attempted to preserve it.

The creature is about the length and thickness of an ordinary round desk ruler, a little flattened before and rounded behind.  It is brownish, with a pale stripe along either side.  The skin is furrowed into 350 circular folds, in which are imbedded minute scales.  The head is tolerably distinct, with a double row of fine curved teeth for seizing the insects and worms on which it is supposed to live.

Naturalists are most desirous that the habits and metamorphoses of this creature should be carefully ascertained, for great doubts have been entertained as to the position it is entitled to occupy in the chain of creation.

Batrachians.—­In the numerous marshes formed by the overflowing of the rivers in the plains of the low country, there are many varieties of frogs, which, both by their colours and by their extraordinary size, are calculated to excite the surprise of a stranger.  In the lakes around Colombo and the still water near Trincomalie, there are huge creatures of this family, from six to eight inches in length[1], of an olive hue, deepening into brown on the back and yellow on the under side.  A Kandyan species, recently described, is of much smaller dimensions, but distinguished by its brilliant colouring, a beautiful grass green above and deep orange underneath[2].

[Footnote 1:  A Singhalese variety of the Rana cutipora? and the Malabar bull-frog, Hylarana Malabarica.  A frog named by BLYTH Rana robusta proves to be a Ceylon specimen of the R. cutipora.]

[Footnote 2:  R.  Kandiana, Kelaart.]

In the shrubberies around my house at Colombo the graceful little tree-frogs[1] were to be found in great numbers, sheltered under broad leaves to protect them from the scorching sun;—­some of them utter a sharp metallic sound at night, similar to that produced by smacking the lips.

[Footnote 1:  Polypedates maculatus, Gray.]