Analyses of Books . 
231 
1883.1 
there, whilst “ Nature is ever beautiful, man, although often 
strikingly primitive, is hospitable to the stranger, and not often 
vile.” Vileness, indeed, we may best find at home. The “rough ” 
of our modern cities is, in most respedts, a more degraded cha- 
racter than the barbarian. 
We find it noticed that “ one particular species of kingfisher 
always makes its nest in company with that of a colony of wild 
bees.” ,The author suggests that its young may be fed on the 
larvae, or perchance the company of the bees may be courted 
for the sake of their protection in case of the nest being at- 
tacked.” 
A very curious observation is made concerning Nepenthes bi- 
calcarata, a new pitcher-plant discovered and introduced by the 
author. Its pitchers, which always contain inseCts of various 
kinds, are armed at their entrance with two sharp and strong 
spines. Mr. Burbidge is convinced that the spines serve to 
prevent birds and inseCt-hunting animals — such as the tarsier 
— from removing these inseCts, which doubtless serve as nourish- 
ment to the plant. The author has also observed the Myrmeco- 
dia described by Beccari, who asserts that unless the young 
seedlings are bitten by a species of ants which always inhabit 
the stems, they die. Mr. Burbidge is unable to confirm the 
view taken by the Italian naturalist. 
Of Singapore, where the author made some stay on his out- 
ward journey, he gives a very elaborate description. He notes 
the rare and beautiful orchids which grow in cocoa-nut shells 
hung from the verandahs of the houses, the museum of the 
Raffles Institution, the Botanical Gardens, and the Chinese im- 
migrants. Concerning the latter he remarks that “ wherever 
they are admitted a strong hand is needed to keep them in order.” 
On a visit to the mainland he notices the preparation of gambier, 
which he describes as “ a very exhausting crop, literally ruining 
the land on which it is grown.” In the jungles and on the rocks 
he obtained many interesting botanical specimens, and here he 
first made the acquaintance of the land-leeches. The argus and 
the fire-backed pheasant are noticed as common. In the Malay 
peninsula there exists a tribe who are commonly known as 
Orang-utan — a confusing pradlice : hence it is preferable to speak 
of the great ape of Borneo and Sumatra as the “ mias.” On 
his voyage to Borneo he saw a sea-snake, about 8 feet in length, 
basking on the surface of the water. This species is said to be 
very venomous, and occasionally to hide itself in boats or in huts 
near the shore. 
In Borneo he finds a wonderful beauty and luxuriance of vege- 
tation, but, except where a partial clearing had been made or a 
tree overthrown by a tempest, all the rarities, animal as well as 
vegetal, were high aloft. Every evening he was able to send 
his men home loaded with roots and specimens. He remarks 
that, for all the absence of law and government, the proportionate 
