204 THE HABITS OF MALAY REPTILES. 
seen it from Blakang Mati. 
Two other vipers, Z. sumatranus and L. monticola, are also 
reported from Singapore and Penang, but they appear to be 
very rare here. 
There can be no doubt that snakes are much scarcer in Singa- 
pore than formerly, and this is no doubt due to clearing of 
much of the jungle, and especially the constant burning of the 
Lalang, but still a great variety remain here, and some kinds 
are still remarkably abundant, and those by no means always of 
the smaller kinds. 
It is rather interesting to observe the behaviour of various 
animals at the sight of snakes. Common monkeys are usually 
very excited, crowding together to look at it, and chattering 
loudly. The Mias, who usually inhabits trees taller than snakes 
are accustomed to ascend, seems to take no notice of one. The 
binturong, on bringing a cobra near it, turned its face away as 
if in horror, but really no doubt recognizing that its most vul- 
nerable portion was its face The Water Mungoose, Herpestes 
brachyurus, like the Indian Mungoose, bristles up its fur and 
attacks and devours the snake. Some deer, when a large py- 
thon was brought past their paddock, though at some distance, 
crowded together at the bars, gazing at it and stamping their 
feet, evidently recognizing it as a dangerous enemy. 
I append a list of our reptiles as far as at present known, 
based on Mr. Flower’s list already referred to, with the addition 
of later captures and have’ added all recorded localities, Those 
marked (!) I have collected myself or have seen in the Singapore 
Museum. It will be seen how little we know of the fauna of 
the Native States as yet. 
