THE BIRDS OF SINGAPORE ISLAND 
collectively kno\vn as "punai" although the more observant 
of Malays and sportsmen indicate that they recognise the 
specific differences of the several allit-d and common species 
by their use of the vernacular "punai daun", **pmmi sital" and 
"punai bakau". Of these we have more to say belowr. 
Status in Singapore t — This pigeon is common in Singapore 
and at certain seasons the small swiftly-fiyinj^ flocks must be 
familiar to aH residents, even those hving^ in the immediate 
environs of the town. !t breeds on the Island and is also 
abundant on the smaller islands in the Johore Straits and to 
the south of Singapore. Even to this day a hundred or so 
may be seen on some evenings from a point as near the town 
as the Botanic Gardens, but there seems little room to doubt 
that, locally at least, the punai has decreased very much in 
numbers during recent years. It is a resident bird and not 
migratory in the true sense, but if not breeding its presence 
in any numbers is more often than not to be associated with 
the fruiting of certain trt:es. 
In former years enormous bags could be obtained in or 
near Singapore and a hundred or two birds from one evening's 
*' shoot*' does not appear to hav^e been exceptional, but in the 
words of Singapore's oldest sportsman, Mr. G. P. Owen, 
**The days of sport on the island are almost over, and one 
cannot but regret that the all-conquering rubber has put an end 
to one of the most delightful pastimes which our predecessors 
of as recently as twenty years ago thoroughly enjoyed". 
Odd pigeons sometimes stray into the town gardens but 
they are nonnally only met with on the outskirts of the town 
and arc naturally most abundant further afield. 
Ffcld Notes: — Small flocks of pigeons seen in or near 
Singapore are usually of this si>ecies and when an3rw^here near 
the town itself almost certainly so. The observer will ahnost 
invariably see them either flit^^hting in the evening, or feeding 
or resting in tall trees. Under the former circumstances they 
cannot be mistaken, for the flocks of birds usually appear- 
about an hour before sunset, flock after flock following the 
same route passing ov^er certain landmarks with wonderful 
[48] 
