72 



Sletch of the Malayan Pe7iin,<iula, 



AvEs.— Among birds the Falcon tribe is classed first by naturalists. 

 Birds of this kind are generally known to the Malnys under the name o^ 

 Lang : there is the Aquila Pondlceriava, and the Lang laut. or sea fal- 

 con. The Falco dimidiatus of Raffles ; besides many others too numer 

 ous to mention. Of \heStrlgidoe or owl family, called by Malnys Buring 

 Bavfu, the spectre birds, the woodpeckers, and the Lanii or butcher 

 birds (of this VasX geinis is the Rdruharn, an elegant singing bird), are 

 several varieties ; and four or five of the Buceros, or rhinoceros horn' 

 bills. One or two of storks, among which is the Bangu or Ciconia 

 J avam'ca. Of parrots, kingfishers, flycatchers, pigeons and doves there 

 is an endless variety. The Hirundo esculenfa, or sw;41-nw that builds 

 the edible birdb' nes*, frequents the islands. The yellovv-caruncled, 

 black mina, or Gracula religiosa of Linnseus, enlivens the forests. 

 Tho><e superb creatures the crimson-plumaged Pergam, the Argus phea- 

 sant, the Phasi^inus Nycthemp.rus or pencilled pheasant, the peacock 

 pheasant, tlie common peacock, the blue pheasant partridge, the jun- 

 gle fowl, and humming bird'-, dazzle the eye by the beautiful brilliance 

 of their plumage. The murei or dial bird, XYiq Gracula Sanlaris of 

 Linngpus, is a native of the peninsula. 



Snipes, common rind painted ; wild duck ; teal ; the common, grey, 

 and whistling plover: rails; bitterns; red, black and green quail* 

 abound in the plains, marshes, and banks of rivers. The red-legged 

 partridge is said to exist, thoujrh I never met wi?h it. The common 

 sparrov/ Rnd crow a- e to be found as they are in every quarter of the 

 globe. The latter, however, is not plentiful. 



KFPTfLiA. — Of the class reptiles, order Tesfudivafa, are the river, 

 sea and the hav;ksbill turtle. Of Loricata, the crocodile is said to exist. 

 Of the order ►S'aMj-m are many varieties, among which is the common 

 alligator in great abtmrlance, the elegant monetor lizard, and, in the 

 genus Draco, the flying dragon of Linneeus. Among ophidians is the 

 Boa Phrygia, the Python of Cuvier. Of the Coluber genns are the tiger 

 snake, so called from its stripes ; the whip snake, and many others. I 

 once shot a variety of the Cobra di Capello, perfectly black, except the 

 belly which was of a darksilvery hue. There are also some interest- 

 ing varieties of the genera Leptophis, Uurria, Cophias, and of the 

 Hydras, or water snake. 



PiscF.s.— Among the fishes we hnve the sword-fish, the electrical 

 skate, the ray, the fasciated ray, the bhark, the zebra shark, the ham- 



