1^2 Menage Expedition to the Philippines 



rain and sun. That afternoon one of the Dyaks broug-ht in a fe- 

 male mias, which we skinned next day. The next two days 

 brought in nothing but a tupia, two squirrels and a few good 

 birds. Two mias were seen by the men but were gone before I 

 could get to them. So I decided to return the next day. Early in 

 the morning it was raining, but about seven it stopped ; we broke 

 camp and loaded the boats. With two men I started ahead in the 

 small boat and soon ran across a flock of long-nosed monkeys. 

 I gave chase, and wading through the swamp, up to the waists 

 in water, we ran across another mias, which we secured. Farther 

 on down the river I shot two black monkeys, a female and a 

 young one a month old. We arrived at the house about two 

 o'clock, making a quick trip as we were favored by the tide, this 

 being a tidal river. 



I found that a large male mias had been brought in by some 

 Dyaks from the Sadeng. It had been killed for at least twenty- 

 four hours, so that my boy, whom I had left in charge of the 

 house, was not able to save the skin. He saved the skeleton, a 

 fine one, in good condition. Had I been on the spot the moment 

 the animal arrived I might possibly have saved the skin by means 

 of a warm salt and alum bath, but it is doubtful, as twenty-four 

 hours in this climate is usually enough to start the epidermis on 

 almost any animal. 



This is a brief account of my work up to date in Borneo. I 

 expect to start in a day or two for the Sibuyan river where I 

 hope to get ten or a dozen good mias, besides other mammals 

 of interest. While there I shall be beyond the reach of mails. 



With kind regards to yourself and all inquiring friends, I am. 



Yours very truly, 



F. S. Bourns. 



