Harbors. —Point de Gallo (q.v.) and Trincomalee (q.v.) are the two harbors of Ceylon. The former is small and dangerous, but the latter is unsurpassed as a safe and com modious port. The variation of the tides is very trifling; the rise and fall not generally exceeding 18 to 24 in., with a third of increase at spring-tides.
In climate, C. has a great advantage over the mainland of India, and as an island, enjoys a more equable temperature. The average for the year in Colombo (q.v.) is 80' in ordinary seasons. April is the hottest month; and in May the S.W. monsoon com mences amid a deluge of rain, and continues the prevailing wind till Oct., when the n.e. monsoon sets in: 80 in. is the average annual fall of rain, though in an exceptional year, 120 in. have been registered. The beautiful table-land of Neuera Ellia was first visited by Europeans in 1826, and is now used as a sanatorium. Here the thermometer in the shade never rises above 70°, while the average is 62°; the nights are cool and refreshing. The n. of the island, including the peninsula of Jaffna, the plains of Neuera Kalawa, and the Wanny, may be reckoned as a third climatic division. Here the annual fall of rain does not exceed 30 in., and irrigation is largely employed in agriculture.
Flora.—The general botanical features of C., especially of the lowlands, are nearly identical with those of southern India and the Deccan, although it possesses a few genera of plants not to be found in those regions. Its pluenogamic plants are limited to about 3,000. The beautiful ixoras, erythrinas, buteas, Jonesias, and other flowering shrubs bloom in the forests. At an elevation of 6,500 ft., the acanthacew cover large tracts of ground, and the tree-fern reaches the height of 20 feet. On the highest ground, rhododendron attain the size of timber-trees. The coral-tree (eurythrina Indica), the murutu (lagerstnemia regime), and the Jonesia asoca are amongst the most magnificent of the flowering trees. The fig tribe are planted in the vicinity of the temples. In the forests, climbing-plants and epiphytes of prodigious size and striking appearance cover the trees with a mass of parasitical foliage of extraordinary growth. The palmacew are very conspicuous in the vegetation of C., although not more than 10 or 12 species are indigenous: the cocoa-palm—of which it is estimated there are not less than 20 millions of trees—the taliput, the palmyra—which forms extensive forests in the n. of
the island—and the jaggary palmare the most noteworthy. Of timber-trees, 416 varieties are known, and amongst these the satin-wood holds the first rank. The flora of the highlands, above 2,000 ft., and up to 6,000 or 7,000, though much resembling that of the Neilgherries, has a marked affinity to the vegetation of the highlands of Malacca and Java, especially the latter.
Fauna.—A knowledge of the fauna of C. has been greatly advanced by the labors of Drs. Templeton and Kelaart and Mr. Edgar Layard. Quadrumanous animals are repre sented by the Loris gracilis, and five species of monkeys. Sixteen species of the cheirop tera or bat tribe, exist in C., and what is very remarkable, many of these rival the birds in the brilliancy of their colors. The pteropus Edward,sii (the flying-fox of Europeans) measures from 4 to 5 ft. from tip to tip of its extended wings. Of the larger carnivora, the bear and the leopard, and of the smaller, the palm-cat and the glossy genette (the civet of Europeans) may be mentioned. The dreaded tiger of India, the cheeta, the wolf, and the hyena are happily not met with in Ceylon. Deer, buffaloes, and the humped ox of India are amongst the ruminantia; the little musk-deer (moschus meminna) is less than 2 ft. in length. The pachydermata are represented by the elephant and the wild boar; the former, which is for the most part tuskless, is emphatically lord of the forests of Ceylon. The most remarkable of the cetacea is the dugong. Whales are captured off the coast; 320 species of birds have been ascertained by Drs. Templeton and Kelaart and Mr. Layard. The song of the robin and long-tailed thrush, and the flute-like voice of the oriole, are heard over the whole mountain zone, and far down into the neighboring plains. Eagles, the beautiful peregrine falcon, owls, swallows, king fishers, sun-birds, bulbuls, crows, paroquets, pigeons, pea-fowl, jungle-fowl, and many others of the feathered tribe might be mentioned did space permit. Myriads of aquatic birds and waders, amongst which the flamingo is conspicuous, cover the lakes and lagoons. The crocodile is the largest reptile in the island; tortoises and lizards are also found. There are a few species of venomous snakes, and of these the ticpolong,a and the cobra da capello are the most deadly.