232 
Analyses of Boohs, 
fApril, 
number of murders and robberies does not exceed the amount 
taking place in the centres of civilisation. Islam, from its incul- 
cation of cleanliness and temperance, he considers a great 
blessing to many Eastern races. The gutta-percha trees, of 
which there are at least five species, are surely being extirpated 
in Borneo, as well as in the other islands. The caoutchouc from 
Borneo is also the mixed sap of three species of Willughbeia. 
The ascent of Kina Balu, 9000 feet in height, proved exceed- 
ingly productive in botanical rarities, such as “ Imperial Kew 
had longed for in vain.” Luminous fungi were noticed glowing 
by night on the rotten sticks in the woods, but concerning the 
inseCt population of this region nothing is recorded. 
In the island of Labuan the primeval forest has been devas- 
tated by fires, and much of its characteristic vegetation has dis- 
appeared. We doubt the supposition that it has been rendered 
healthier, as in most tropical regions epidemics such as cholera 
and yellow fever extend just in proportion as the country is 
cleared. Mr. Burbidge notes the sweet song of Copsychus amce- 
nus, the only bird peculiar to Labuan. Several venomous snakes 
are mentioned, but fatal accidents from this cause are very rare. 
One species, not named, swallows smaller snakes, but can 
scarcely be on that account pronounced a cannibal unless it preys 
on its own species. The sun-birds he notes as representing the 
humming-birds of the Neotropical region. Like the latter they 
hover over our blossoms, but they perch more frequently, and 
often feed clinging by their feet, sometimes head downwards. 
The humming-birds, on the contrary, take their food whilst on 
the wing, as do the swifts, and among inseCts the Sphingidas. 
The spiders are described as of “ alarming size,” but gaily 
coloured. There are oil-springs in Labuan, but the produCt is 
carelessly let flow to waste. The author describes some mason- 
wasps and large black carpenter-bees. 
It is interesting to find that at heights of 7000 feet and up- 
wards, on the Bornean mountains, Australian types of vegetation 
appear. A curious ethnological faCt is that Malay and Bornean 
women, if married to Europeans, rarely bear children, and if 
they do the offspring of such unions are ordinarily incapable of 
reproduction. On the other hand, half-breeds between Chinese 
and Malays or Borneans are numerous and healthy. 
Mr. Burbidge asks, “ How comes it that none of our good 
landscape-painters ever visit the tropics, where the beauty of 
form and colour in the landscapes is more glorious than anywhere 
else ? ” — a question which we are disposed to echo. 
At Sandakan, on his way to Sulu, the author met with Mr. W. 
B. Pryer, the well-known entomologist, who had made a splendid 
collection of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, including several forms 
supposed to be new to Science. I11 the Sulu Islands he remarks 
the number, beauty, and variety of butterflies, but gives no clue 
as to the species, or even genera or families. He mentions, 
