66 



The percentage of alkaloids present is quite equal to tlie average 

 amount found iu commercial supplies of coca leaves from other 

 sources. 



COMMERCIAL VALUATION, 



A sample of the leaves was submitted for valuation to a firm of 

 manufacturing chemists, who reported that the colour was not parti- 

 cularly good, and that at present similar leaves containing 0.6 per 

 cent, of total alkaloids would fetch 7UJ. to Sd. per lb. on the London 

 market. 



The firm stated that they had recently made a considerable pur- 

 chase of Java leaves of the same alkaloidal strength, but of superior 

 coloiu" at the above-mentioned price. 



CONCLUSIONS AND KECOMiMENDATIONS. 

 These coca leaves from Perak were not very well prepared, being 

 much broken and discoloured. To obtain the best price, the leaves 

 should bo bright green, unbroken, and of good ai*oma, and these 

 characters can only be obtained by collecting the leaves carefully aud 

 drying them fairly rapidly. 



It is stated that, in Java and Ceylon, the best qualities of coca 

 leaves are dried quickly by means of a current of w^arm air produced 

 by a fan. 



The price obtainable at the present time for coca leaves is fairly 

 remiuierative, l)ecausc the trade, outside South America, is in a few 

 hands and there is no over-production of the leaves. The total 

 demand for coca leaves is, however, small, aud there would be great risk 

 of overstocking the market and so reducing prices if further extensive 

 planting is undertaken. In these circumstances, if it is proposed to 

 plant Erj/throo'ijloii coca in the Federated Malay )States, the enterprise 

 should be started on a small scale aud afterwards extended, should 

 circumstances point to the desirability of this being done. 



(Sd.) WYNDHAM K. DUNSTAN. 

 Joth July, 1907. 



A HAND LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MALAY PEN- 

 INSULA, SOUTH OF THE ISTHMUS OF KKA. 



By HERBERT C. ROBINSON, c.m.z.s., m.b.o.v., 

 CuBATOE, Selangor State Mcseum. 



OINCE Huiue published his three papers i on " The Birds of the West- 

 -^ em Half of the Malay Peninsula" in 1879 and 1880, no general 

 list of the birds of the region has been issued, though a very consider- 

 able amount of collecting has been accomplished, more especially ou 



' Slruij Fcutlicrs, viii., pp. y7-72; loin, cil., pjj. 151-1G3; op. cit., pp. 107-132. 



