148 COLLECTING EXPEDITION TO BATANG PADANG. 
Of birds we got a specimen of a fine large green wood- 
pecker and another woodpecker of large size that I have not 
seen before, a handsome-plumaged, yellow-breasted trogon 
(Harpactes oreskios) anda species I do not know, besides 
three specimens of the pretty little yellow-crested sultan tit. 
This bird does not seem to differ from that met within the low 
country. While hunting in the undergrowth for one of these 
birds Iwasstung onthe face and hand by one of those handsomely 
coloured hairy caterpillars. The effect is like receiving several 
stings from a wasp, and for a few hours is extremely painful. 
The stinging is apparently produced in the same way as in the 
common stinging nettle, that is to say, the hairs are hollow and 
have near their bases enlargements containing a poisonous 
fluid which is expelled from the points, when the hairs enter 
the flesh. Other caterpillars have stinging powers, but then 
the irritation is mechanical and is produced by the hair being 
barbed and breaking off into the flesh. The large scarlet 
caterpillar met with in the jungle of the low country and much 
dreaded by the natives is of this latter class. The Malayan 
stinging nettle known as je/atang, | have examined under the 
microscope, and it stings in the same way as its English 
representative. 
While writing this | was interrupted by JELLAH, who had 
just found a large dark metallic green scorpion (Luthus 
spiniger) in his bed. A chase ensued with the aid of lanterns, 
but the disagreeable bed fellow escaped through the /antz 
floor of the house. 
On the third we got one new bird, and on the fourth I shot 
two small brown. barbets which I have not seen up so high on 
the hills before. On the 5th another new bird was shot besides 
a male yellow trogon and several others. 
Some more trees were felled, among them being a fine oak 
with very large acorns. I shot down a specimen of the fir tree 
I have previously mentioned and found: it to be, as I thought, 
another species. There are, therefore, three speciesyonwbam 
Puteh and a fourth on the Larut Hills (Dammara alba), but this 
latter has large broad leaves unlike those on the main range. 
Seven Sakais from Cheroh came up to carry down baggage, 
so I packed up things that were not wanted, as it seemed un- 
