DammermaN: Fauna of the Krakatau Islands. 75 



Apart from these animals introduced purposely by man, four species 

 of mammals have been found on Sebesy. Two species of rats occur on 

 the island, viz. the house rat (Rattus rattus diardi JENT.), and the country 

 rat {R. rattus brevicaudatus H. et DE R.). 



House rats videre trapped in and near the native dwellings; country 

 rats were caught in the wood, but quite near harvested rice fields, at an 

 altitude of about 100 M. Undoubtedly both species have reached the island 

 by human agency, there being much traffic beween Sebesy and the Sumatra 

 coast by rather large sailing vessels. 



At least two species of bats were, observed, a small one, a Cynopterus, 

 and a large Pteropus, Many of these Flying-foxes came also in the evening 

 to the island from the Sumatra mainland. Once, on the 29th September 

 1920, great swarms of smaller bats were noticed at twilight flying to Sebesy 

 and coming from Sebuku. 



hi view of the extensive cocoanut plantations on the island and the 

 constant communication with the Sumatra coast, I was surprised at the absence 

 on the island of the common "badjing'Y^^^'^/''/^^^^^^^^^^ BODD.). Cocoanuts 

 damaged by this squirrel have not been seen and the natives also have 

 never noticed it, fortunately enough for their plantations. 



As to birds, on Sebesy they are undoubtedly more plentiful than on Kra- 

 katau. Altogether 42 species have been observed ; for an exact comparison we 

 have to deduct, however, the migrants and non-resident forms. No less than 8 

 migratory birds have been noticed, viz, C/z^to^^cc^yx basalts, MotacillaJLava, 

 Motacill'i melanope, Phylloscopus borealis, and the four Limicolae; also 3 

 straying species : — Demiegretta sacra, Sterna melanauchen and a Frigate bird. 



As true resident forms there remain 31 species against 26 on Krakatau. 

 Moreover Sebesy has been visited only once by an ornithologist and 

 Krakatau twice. 



That birds are so much more numerous on Sebesy can be accounted 

 for by the far more advanced stage of the vegetation and the presence of 

 fresh water, A bird which certainly followed the rice cultivation on the 

 island is Munia nisoria. 



Also the number of Reptiles is higher. Three species of snakes occur, namely 

 Python reticulatus SCHN., Chrysopelia ornata SHAW and Coluber melanurus 

 SCHLEO. Of the last species a nest was found with 14 eggs just hatched. 



Of Lacertilia 4 species were caught : — Lepidodactylus lugubris D. et B. 

 already recorded from Krakatau and Verlaten I.; a house gecko. Gecko 

 monarchus D. et B; Lygosonia bowringlG.TnK.2ind Varanas salvatorLALR., 

 being here as common as on the islands of the Krakatau group. The wide- 

 spread Hemidactylus frenatus D. et B., the commonest tjitjak of the 

 Archipelago was not observed on Sebesy. 



Though freshwater rivulets and pools are quite plentiful on Sebesy no 

 Amphibians or freshwater fishes could be detected except a very small 

 species of the latter, but probably this was an estuarine form. 



