28 A NATURALIST IN BORNEO 



so much in demand by Dayaks, Kayans, and other 

 tribes that few specimens ever find their way into 

 museums. The skin is made up into war-coats and 

 the teeth are worn in the ears by chiefs, a large hole 

 being punched in the upper part of the conch for the 

 reception of these remarkable ornaments. The Clouded 

 Leopard spends much of its life in trees, and, unlike its 

 congeners the Tiger and Panther of the Malay Peninsula, 

 is somewhat timid and retiring, and has never been 

 known to attack man. 



Owing to the absence of ferocious Carnivores, camp- 

 ing out in Borneo is not attended with the anxiety about 

 their attacks which travellers in the Malay Peninsula or 

 Sumatra must feel. In the Land-Dayak village of Singgi, 

 Upper Sarawak, a Tiger's skull is preserved in the chief's 

 house, and is regarded as a very potent charm, ensuring 

 the prosperity of the village. The late Mr. A. H. Everett, 

 the naturalist who did so much to make known the 

 fauna of Borneo, tried very hard to examine this skull 

 more closely, but he was not allowed to do so. The 

 skull is of an unknown antiquity ; there is, however, 

 no evidence to show that it once belonged to a Tiger 

 indigenous in Borneo. 



Felis bengalensis is the commonest Cat in Sarawak, 

 and it wreaks havoc amongst native hen-coops ; the 

 kittens are the most beautiful little creatures imaginable, 

 with their fluffy fur and bright blue eyes ; there are 

 usually four young ones at a birth. Of F. planiceps 

 Dr. C. Hose records 1 that " it is very fond of fruit, 

 and has constantly been known to dig up and eat the 

 potatoes which are grown by the natives of Borneo " ; 

 certainly a very remarkable habit for one of the cat 

 * Mammals of Borneo, London, 1893, p. 20. 



