CERVUS MUNTJAK. 



peculiar attachment, and which it never voluntarily deserts. Many of these are 

 known as the favourite resort of our animal for several generations. They consist 

 of moderately elevated grounds, diversified by ridges and vaUies, tending towards the 

 acclivities of the more considerable mountains, or approaching the confines of extensive 

 forests. Such districts are by no means uncommon in Java ; they are covered with 

 long grass, and shrubs and trees of moderate size, growing in groups or small thickets, 

 and they generally intervene between cultivated tracts and the deep forests. Their 

 vegetation is peculiarly adapted to afford to our animal a very abundant supply of 

 nourishment: their surface is covered with long grass, Saccharum spicatum, well 

 known to persons who have visited the interior of Java by the name of Allang- 

 Allang, and the groves and thickets abound with Phyllanthus Emblica — Linn.; these 

 two plants constitute its principal food. They also produce many species of Hibiscus, 

 Grewia, Urena, and other malvaceous plants, all which are greedily eaten by the 

 Kidang. About the middle of the dry season, in the Javanese winter, just before 

 the foliage is renewed, the shrubs and herbaceous plants covering the plains and 

 small woods are, according to an old and universal custom in Java, set on fire, and 

 thus these tracts are prepared for a new vegetation, which appears shortly before the 

 annual rains, in a period that may be compared with an European spring ; after the 

 lapse of a few weeks, the ground and shrubs are covered with fresh verdure, and 

 a most abundant supply of food is ready for the Kidang. These districts, being 

 in most cases sparingly supplied with water, do not invite an extensive popu- 

 lation : the Kidang is not molested by a few solitary hamlets, but the leaves of 

 the Convolvulus Batatas, and of many leguminous and cucurbitaceous plants, 

 which always surround the dwelUngs of the natives, afford it an occasional 

 repast. Many of these hamlets might be enumerated, which would afford a pleasant 

 recollection to those persons who have visited the native Courts, or the eastern capitals. 

 Jebres, Kayu-urib, and Pring-ombo near Surakarta, and KaU-wungu near Sama- 

 rang, are among the most favourite. 



The native inhabitants of the hamlets dispersed through the districts in which 

 the Kidang is found, do not possess means to undertake the chace ; but it affords 

 a favourite amusement both to Europeans and to natives of rank, who engage in it 

 in different modes with great ardour. The Cervus Muntjak has a strong scent, 

 and is easily tracked by dogs. When pursued, it does not go off, like the Stag, in 

 any accidental direction ; its flight indeed is very swift at first, but it soon relaxes, 

 and, taking a circular course, returns to the spot from which it was started. The 

 natives, acquainted with the character of our animal, describe it as possessing a 

 great portion of craftiness, combined with much indolence. After several circular 



