Ropinson & Kioss: Birds of West Sumatra. 193 
Balun, Muara Labu, Padang Highlands, 480 M. 
A hamlet in the valley of the Air Siliti, enclosed by 
two parallel chains of the Barisan Range. The floor of 
the valley is covered with rice-fields, but the enclosing hills 
are clothed with forest. 
Bartagak, Sungai Puar, Padang Highlands, 1100 M. 
A village against the N.W. slope of Mt. Merapi. 
The surroundings are divested of forest, but a little 
swamp near by is a gathering place for all kind of 
waterfowl. 
Baso, Agam, Padang Highlands, 900 M. 
The plain of Agam is intensively cultivated, chiefly 
with rice. 
The avifauna round the place is very poor. 
The place is situated on the railway from Fort de Kock 
to Pajokumbuh. 
+ 
Bencoolen (town), 5 M. 
The town of Bencoolen on the West coast of Sumatra, 
was to me of special interest as collecting ground, as Sir 
Stamford Raffles, when governor of Bencoolen, obtained 
most of his zoological specimens from its surroundings, 
which now, however, look quite different from what they 
were in Raffles’ time. The forest has nearly entirely 
vanished to be replaced by cultivated grounds or lalang 
plains. Not very far from the town there is still some 
swampy forest, where I obtained a number of interesting 
specimens. 
Biaro, Agam, Padang Highlands, 900 M. Railway station. 
A village near Baso, with the same kind of surround- 
ings as Bencoolen. 
Bondjol, Agam, Padang Highlands, 220 M. 
This village is situated in the region of the volcanic 
tufa grounds, interspersed with many hills with nearly 
perpendicular sides. The flat tracts of country are culti- 
vated and the hills covered with much devastated secondary 
forest or scrub bush. I only stopped here a few hours 
as the place is not promising for collecting. 
Bukit Barampung, Supajang, Padang Highlands, 1400 M. 
The country is nearly entirely deprived of forest or 
trees through the natives regularly burning down all vege- 
tation. Only isolated clumps of trees are found near the 
villages. 
Bukit Sonsang, Solok, Padang Highlands. 
I did not visit this place, but only obtained by purchase 
one fruit pigeon, said to have been trapped there, 
