xxiii. 



Batkaohia and Fishes. There is nothing special to note a\ it li 

 regard to these groups. The latter were hardly collected, as we had no 

 dynamite with us, and the few specimens we captured by other means 

 were in too great request as food to l>e consigned to the spirit jar. 



Invertebrates. -Time did not permit of our devoting our atten- 

 tion to collecting the invertebrata, for which, at any rate during the 

 time of our visit, GunongjTahan proved a singularly poor ground. 

 Butterflies were fairly numerous at Kuala Teku, but were only the 

 common varieties, chiefly Pieridae, to be met with everywhere in the 

 Malay Peninsula. At our 6th Camp (alt. 3,300 ft.) Longieorns were 

 fairly numerous, both in species and individuals. A considerable 

 number were collected, which will doubtless be reported on in due 

 course. Higher up insect life was very scarce, and in the central 

 valley practically the only butterflies noted were species of Delias and 

 Danais, which were rare, and a Mycalests which was very common. 

 Wasps (Vespa ducalis) and humble bees (Bombus sj).) were fairly 

 common at high altitudes, and so was a large bluish-black click beetle 

 (Elaterid). Mosquitoes were very scarce and so luckily were the large 

 blowflies, which, on many mountains in the Peninsula, render life a bur- 

 den by depositing their eggs in clothes and food. Very few centipedes, 

 millipedes or scorpions were noted, though one or two very large 

 specimens of the former group were found under stones at the summit. 



BOTANY. 



Contrary to expectation the general Flora of the Tahan region 

 was by no means rich, and in particular the comparative scarcity 

 of epiphytic plants, which on" the main range of the Peninsula are 

 exceedingly abundant, was very marked. This is probably due to the 

 fact that Grtmong Tahan is situated at a very considerable distance 

 from the sea, and that, during a portion of the year at least, possesses 

 a much drier climate than most other mountains approaching it in 

 height. The soil, too, being entirely derived from the denudation of 

 sandstones and quartzites, is largely deficient in the mineral elements 

 necessary for vigorous plant growth ; while the steepness of the slopes, 

 and the heavy rainfall during the wet monsoon, prevents very great 

 accumulation of vegetable humus. Only in one place, beneath the 

 escarpment of Gunong Tahan itself, did I notice anything to equal 

 the luxuriant vegetation prevalent at similar heights in Selangor and 

 Perak. Begonias, in particular, were especially scarce, and the 

 growth of moss on trees and ground, even in the shadiest and dampest 

 situations, was nowhere especially marked. 



From Kuala Teku onwards to about 2,500 ft. the jungle was of 

 ordinary submontane character of a somewhat open type, the 

 most characteristic feature being the existence in large numbers 

 of the rare and local palm Teysmannia aUifrons, which was a perfect 

 godsend to us for hut-building purposes, as the bertam palm Evgeis- 

 sona tristis, in general use for such purposes, was hardly to be found. 



