HISTORY OF SANTUBONG, SARAWAK. 19 
FAUNA OF SANTUBONG. 
In respect to mammals and birds the fauna of this island 
differs considerably from that of Matang. On the latter 
mountain, the morning air resounds with the cries of numer- 
ous gibbons (Hylobates) whereas not a single one is to be found 
on Santubong. So also Santubong differs in having no bears, 
no cats, no kijang (Cervulus muntjac), no porcupines, no partridges 
pheasants, quails, parrots, nor any other ground birds. Wedo 
find, however, on this island the long nosed monkey (Nasalis 
larvatus), the brok and the kra (Macacus nemestrinus and 
cynomolgus), and several species of Senmopithecus, the wild pig 
(sus barbatus), the little plandok (7 agulus sp.), the flyi ing lemur 
(Galeopithecus volans),and many species of squirrels: as a resort 
of the immigrant game birds, plover, snipe, curlew, and allies in 
their proper season—(from end of September to the beginning 
of March)—the neighbourhood of Buntal has some fame among 
sportsmen. The other birds are too numerous to mention and 
they do not appear to be of special interest apart from the 
curious fact just mentioned, that there is a general absence of 
birds whose flight is short and weak. This, coupled with the 
significant fact that the Bornean mammals on Santubong are 
such as can swim whilst those absent from the island and yet 
present on the adjacent mainland cannot or do not swim, is 
after all just what might have been a priorz predicted after a 
study of the geography of the district. 
There can be little doubt in fact but that Santubong has 
for a very long time been separated from the mainland by a 
barrier too formidable to permit the crossing of any but swimming 
mammals or strong flying birds: this barrier was at first open 
sea nearly ten miles wide, but with the simultaneous deposit 
of mud at the mouth of the Sarawak River and the gradual 
encroachment seawards of the vegetation of mangrove swamps, 
the open sea gave place almost entively to a dismal swamp 
which to some terrestrial animals is as impassable as the sea. 
As we shall see, there ‘are good reasons for believing that 
Santubong was at a still more remote period. joined to 
Matang by high ground, and premising this, it becomes difficult 
R. Ae So>., No. 51, 1908. 
