MALAYAN ORNITHOLOGY. 27 



Among the Malays they go by the name of the "bodoh" (fool) 

 Pigeon ; and if the native account of the way they are caught be 

 true, the name is well deserved. 



According to one of the Malacca bird-catcher's, after having dis- 

 covered a place frequented by these Doves, generally an open space 

 near high jungle, he concealed himself in a small hut of boughs, and 

 scattered rice on the ground all round him ; in a short time the birds 

 flew down to feed on the grain, and settled so close to his hiding- 

 place that, quietly putting out his hand, he was able to catch 

 them one after another, the sudden and strange disappearance of 

 one of their number not in the least alarming the others. 



Their note is a low cooing. 



Pavo muticus (Linn.). The Burmese Peafowl. 



Not uncommon in the north, but rarely met with in the 

 southern half of the peninsula ; and though I saw a fine cock which 

 had been shot at Cape B-omania, opposite the island of Singapore, 

 it was probably only a straggler, possibly a bird which had 

 escaped from captivity. Anyhow, with this exception, I never 

 heard of a Peacock being obtained so far south. 



I believe they are plentiful in Kedah ; and near Kuala Kangsa, 

 in Perak, I once saw, but was unable to shoot, two Peafowl. 



"7th May, 1877. This evening, at dusk, I was lying in wait, 

 in a swampy ravine with steep jungly banks, for a large boar 

 which frequented the place. 



" Daylight had almost faded away ; and the stillness was broken 

 only by the weird jungle-noises which commence as darkness 

 comes on. In a few minutes more it would have been too dark 

 to shoot; and I was just thinking of making a move, when 

 close behind me a Peafowl uttered its wild and, under the 

 circumstances, startling cries ; and the next moment two large 

 birds new overhead, and settled among the trees on the opposite 

 side of the ravine. At the same time I heard a rustling in the 

 bushes, which was probably caused by the boar, warned by the 

 Peafowls' cries that all was not safe. 



" Clambering up the sides of the ravine, I got within thirty 

 yards of the birds before they rose, but, having only a rifle with 

 me, was unable, in that light, to secure one. Still there was 



