sii_). Of the Carnivora the only one dangerous to
man is the small black bear (_Prochilus labiatus_). The tiger is not
known in Ceylon, but the true panther (_Felis pardus_) is common, as
is the jackal (_Canis aureus_) and the mongoose or ichneumon
(_Herpestes vitticollis_). Rats are numerous, as are the squirrel and
the porcupine, and the pig-rat or bandicoot (_Mus bandicota_), while
the scaly ant-eater (_Manis pentedactyla_), locally known by the Malay
name of pangolin, is occasionally found. The dugong (_Halicore
dugong_), is frequently seen on various points of the coast. A game
preservation society and the judicious action of government have done
much to prevent the wanton destruction of Ceylon deer, elephants, &c.,
by establishing a close season. It is estimated that there must be
5000 wild elephants in the Ceylon forests. A licence to shoot or
capture and an export royalty are now levied by government.

Captain V. Legge includes 371 species of birds in Ceylon, and many of
them have splendid plumage, but in this respect they are surpassed by
the birds of South America and Northern India. The eagles are small
and rare, but hawks and owls are numerous; among the latter is a
remarkable brown species, the cry of which has earned for it the name
of the "devil-bird." The esculent swift, which furnishes in its edible
nest the celebrated Chinese dainty, builds in caves in Ceylon. Crows
of various species are numerous, and in the wilder parts pea-fowl are
abundant. There are also to be mentioned king-fishers, sun-birds,
several beautiful fly-catchers and snatchers, the golden oriole,
parroquets and numerous pigeons, of which there are at least a dozen
species. The Ceylon jungle-fowl (_Gallus Lafayetti_) is distinct from
the Indian species. Ceylon is singularly rich in wading and water
birds--ibises, storks, egrets, spoonbills and herons being frequently
seen on the wet sands, while flamingoes line the beach in long files,
and on the deeper waters inland are found teal and a countless variety
of ducks and smaller fowl. Of the birds familiar to European sportsmen
there are partridge, quail and snipe in abundance, and the woodcock
has been seen.

The poisonous snakes of Ceylon are not numerous. Four species have
been enumerated--the ticpolonga (_Daboia elegans_), the cobra di
capello (_Naja tripudians_), the carawilla (_Trigonocephalus
hypnale_), and the