THE BIRDS OF SINGAPORE ISLAND 
colonies of terns. The Nicobar pigeon has not been obtained 
and probably coracs no nearer than Pulau Pisang off the west 
coast of Johore, 
**Leaving these two larger islands and turning to those 
to the south of Sinj^apore we find a different state of aSairs. 
•'Only a few species of birds are common here. Two or 
perhaps three species of sunbirds (Antlircptcs malaccensis, 
Cyrtostoimis ormtus and Chalcostetha calcosietha) are the 
most noticeable features of the bird-life and with the addition 
of the kit^fishers (Halcyon chtoris humii, Rfiamphakyoti 
capensis malaccetisis and Alcedo b. bengalensis), tlie inevitable 
magpie-robin (Copsychus s. tmisiats), a bnlbul (Pycnonotus 
p. phtmosus), a tree-starling (Aphtus patiaycnsis sirtgains), 
a tailor-bird (Orihotomus r, ruficcps), and two species of 
swallows (Hinnido rusiica guituraHs and H. javattica), 
the list is almost exhausted. Other birds of coorse are found 
occasionally. 
**The tiong (Granda j. javaua)^ and a woodpecker (Dhw- 
pimn j. javanense) are frequentiy seen and perhaps should be 
added to the short list just given, 
"Waders of course occur in season. Tlie common sand* 
piper (Trhigoides hypoteucus) is always the common species 
and is to be found in most months of the year. The turnstone 
(Art'}} aria inicrprcs), is more numerous than is generally sup- 
posed and the whimbrel always outnumbers the curlew. Sand- 
plovers of several species are likewise abundant. It is a 
significant fact that certain species of migratory birds which, 
in winter, occur on the mountains of the Malay Peninsula and 
on islands in the Straits of Malacca, are not included in the 
collections made and furthermore these species are as yet un- 
recorded from Singapore. Such are Hemjckelidon fuligha/^a, 
H , fcrrugmea, Poiymnyias jjiugimakif Ckhoselys sibiricHS and 
Latimfora cyanea. The last two also occur in the lowlands. 
"The absence of any high mountains in the extreme south 
of the Peninsula may possibly have a hearing on this point/' 
