t6 
ber,  but  existing  customs  were  transformed,  savages  withdrew  from 
tlie  district  abandoning  their  lairs  ; even  the  language  proper  was 
forgotten,  giving  rise  to  new  names  to  localities,  plants  &c. 
Characteristic  Amazonian  features  were  lost,  being  supplanted  by 
those  of  a new  California. 
In  1890,  exchange  declined,  with  it,  rose  the  price  of  rubber. 
Then  appeared  the  Gold  famine,  and  with  it  fortunes  were  made 
from  hour  to  hour.  Before  this,  the  rubber  fever,  like  an  epidemic, 
extended  from  one  end  to  another  of  Brazil,  producing  by  this 
transition  the  transformation  of  this  southern  agricultural  land,  with 
only  a thought  for  the  present,  and  to  the  detriment  of  the  future 
of  the  State. 
INTRODUCTION  OF  CEYLON  CROWS  INTO 
The  Resident-General,  F.  M.  S., 
CA/^COSA, 
KUALA  LUMPUR. 
Ceylon  Crows. 
Sir, — In  continuation  of  my  letter  of  the  5th  instant,  I have  the 
honour  to  report  as  follows  : — 
I.  I'here  have  been  no  more  fatalities  amongst  the  crows.  The 
whole  batch  of  56  have  now  been  set  free,  and  so  far  show  no 
inclination  to  desert  the  locality.  They  were  released  as  recorded 
below  : 
The  first  lot  were  let  out  within  4 days  of  their  arrival,  because 
several  of  them  looked  weakly  and  as  if  they  were  suffering  from  the 
confinement.  An  equal  number  of  healthy  crows  were  at  the  same 
time  given  their  liberty  as  I thought  that  the  example  of  those  able 
to  take  care  of  themselves  would  perhaps  be  beneficial  to  their  less 
robust  brethren  in  the  way  of  encouraging  them  to  forage  for  food, 
etc.  Finding  the  first  birds  disinclined  to  fly  away  from  the  place, 
I gradually  let  the  others  out  as  shown  above,  keeping  a dozen 
only  until  yesterday,  in  order  to  observe  their  behaviour  in  capti- 
vity, and  see  if  a prolonged  confinement  would  in  any  way  affect 
them  adversely.  I am  pleased  to  say,  that  far  from  this  being  the 
case  they  got  fresher  every  day,  and  their  plumage  brighter. 
SELANGOR. 
KLANG,  SELANGOR, 
FEDERATED  MALAY  STATES, 
28th  January,  igoj. 
On  9th  January  12  birds. 
12th  ,,  6 „ 
1 6th  „ 
17th 
27th  „ 12  „ 
Total  56  „ 
