INDO-CHINA 57 
fortnight in the same trap without its being moved, and not a 
single bird did I see before it was captured. 
My excitement on finding the first of these rare birds in my 
trap can be imagined, and I felt on top of the world as I made my 
way along a narrow trail that had been cut along the hillside. 
How important it is to remain alert in such places, and not let 
one’s mind wander into a haze because of some exciting success, 
was all too apparent by the time I reached home with my prize. 
As I was walking along the trail, which followed the contour 
of a steep hill, I came round a sharp bend and found myself con- 
fronted by a domestic buffalo bull which was standing right in 
my path. These creatures are quite docile with Annamites, and 
it is a common sight to see children riding on their backs to 
confine them to the grass verges separating rice-fields, but their 
attitude to Europeans is unpredictable. There was no way round 
as the hillside was steep, rising abruptly to my right, and de- 
scending at such an angle to my left that any attempt was out 
of the question without sliding. Furthermore, the hill here was 
covered with dense, tangled second growth. 
At this point there was no need for further deliberation: the 
bull snorted and charged at close quarters. My only path was 
downwards, so I leapt off the trail and crashed through the under- 
growth, sliding downhill on my back and holding my precious 
Chaulet’s Cissa to my body to protect it. A second after I left the 
track there was a loud crash behind me, but I never found out if 
the bull in his furious onslaught was unable to stop himself and 
crashed over the side. My smaller stature had enabled me to slide 
a considerable distance under the tangled vegetation, and I was 
well clear by the time I was brought to a halt, suffering only from 
minor scratches. It was a difficult business regaining the path, 
which I took good care to do at some distance from the scene of 
excitement. 
I was very interested in the tree shrews here, which were not 
uncommon. They are very squirrel-like in size, form, and habits, 
though the snout is pointed and the teeth those of an insectivore. 
Certain cerebral characteristics have caused them to be placed 
near the primates in the systematic order, though other anatomical 
