In traveling through Ceylon, the remark is often made by the
tourist that "he sees so little game." From the accounts
generally written of its birds and beasts, a stranger would
naturally expect to come upon them at every turn, instead of
which it is a well-known fact that one hundred miles of the
wildest country may be traversed without seeing a single head of
game, and the uninitiated might become skeptical as to its
existence.
This is accounted for by the immense proportion of forest and
jungle, compared to the open country. The nature of wild animals
is to seek cover at sunrise, and to come forth at sunset;
therefore it is not surprising that so few are casually seen by
the passing traveler. There is another reason, which would
frequently apply even in an open country. Unless the traveler is
well accustomed to wild sports, he his not his "game eye" open in
fact; he either passes animals without observing them, or they
see him and retreat from view before he remarks them.
It is well known that the color of most animals is adapted by
Nature to the general tint of the country which they inhabit.
Thus, having no contrast, the animal matches with surrounding
objects, and is difficult to be distinguished.
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