142 J0lJB2sAL, NATVBAL HI^T. SOCIETY OF SI AM Vo!. I- 



Being July, the S. W. Monsoon was at its height and my wcrk was 

 greatly hindered by mist. Heavy rain fell daily, but fortunately the 

 leaves of a broad-leaved palm were available for roofing. 



At this time, of my 32 coolies, only 10 were available for work, 

 12 went to and fro to the "Elephant's Tusk" depot for rice, and one- 

 third were always down with malaria. Of the gang sent back for rice, 

 three men preferred the excitement of rafting down the rapids (on a 

 few bamboo poles strung together) to the drudgery of scrambling along 

 the cut path on the banks, and in consequence were laid up for several 

 weeks with bad wounds. Added to the climatic discomforts was the fact 

 that we were constantly short of rice, owing to the fVrry raft breaking 

 away on one trip, when a considerable amount of rice was lost. 



On this ridge I met a species of black langur (Preshyiia 

 femoraUs) not previously observed elsewhere. 



This species is less robust in form than the other species 

 inhabiting Petchaburi, viz. P. ohscurus, and was not observed at 

 elevations below 800 metres. The fur is woollier than in other species, 

 and the young appear to be black or dark-coloured in early life. The call, 

 which may be I'endered "oo-oo-terruk", is entirely different from that of 

 P. ohscAirus or riermaini, and it lacks the hoarse bark of these two species. 

 The Northern limit of P. femora lis appears to be N. Ijat 13^ 50', where 

 the boundary range drops to 350 metres elevation and is crossed by a 

 belt of deciduous dry jungle, which would appear to be unsuitable for 

 the species. From here it ranges down to Singapore, though the 

 Malayan type has considerably more white on the belly and underparts 

 than any specimens obtained by me. 



The White-handed Gibbon (Hijlohates lav) was also obtained 

 here, and was found to have a good deal of fat on the shoulders and 

 back, possibly affording it some protection against the awful weather. 

 The hill men (Karanr/s) have also observed that the gibbon is very fat 

 during the rains. The species is most variable, ranging fVom a dirty 

 straw colour to black, but the hair on hands and feet is invariably 

 white, as also is a ring round the face. 



On this ridge was found a ver}- big herd of Stump-tailed 

 Macacques (probably J\L rufescens), and hearing them before seeing 

 them I thought the sound was that of a pack of wild dogs quarrelling 

 over a carcase. The adults galloped off leaving the youngsters to 

 make their way to the tree tops. Following the game track on top of the 



