20
  cirrhitidae 0 2
  maenidiae 37 25
  sparidae 16 17
  acanthuridae 14 6
  chaetodontidae 25 21
  fistularidae 2 3
Periodopharyngi.
  mugilidae 5 7
  anabantidae 6 15
  pomacentridae 10 11
Pharyngognathi.
  labridae 16 35
  scomberesocidae 13 6
  blenniidae 3 8
Scomberina.
  zeidae 0 2
  sphyraenidae 5 4
  scomberidae 118 62
  xiphiidae 0 1
  cepolidae 0 5
Heterosomata.
  platessoideae 5 22
  siluridae 31 24
  cyprinidae 19 52
  scopelinidae 2 7
  salmonidae 0 1
  clupeidae 43 22
  gadidae 0 2
  macruridae 1 0
Apodes.
  anguillidae 8 12
  muraenidae 8 6
  sphagebranchidae 8 10

CHAP.  V.

CONCHOLOGY, ETC.

I. THE SHELLS OF CEYLON.

Allusion has been made elsewhere to the profusion and variety of shells which abound in the seas and inland waters of Ceylon[1], and to the habits of the Moormen, who monopolise the trade of collecting and arranging them in satin-wood cabinets for transmission to Europe.  But, although naturalists have long been familiar with the marine testacea of this island, no successful attempt has yet been made to form a classified catalogue of the species; and I am indebted to the eminent conchologist, Mr. Sylvanus Hanley, for the list which accompanies this notice of those found in the island.

[Footnote 1:  See Vol.  II.  P. ix. ch. v.]

In drawing it up, Mr. Hanley observes that he found it a task of more difficulty than would at first be surmised, owing to the almost total absence of reliable data from which to construct it.  Three sources were available:  collections formed by resident naturalists, the contents of the well-known satin-wood boxes prepared at Trincomalie, and the laborious elimination of locality from the habitats ascribed to all the known species in the multitude of works on conchology in general.

But, unfortunately, the first resource proved fallacious.  There is no large collection in this country composed exclusively of Ceylon shells.  And the very few cabinets rich in the marine treasures of the island having been filled as much by purchase as by personal exertion, there is an absence of the requisite confidence that all professing to be Singhalese have been actually captured in the island and its waters.