Jan., 1926 
I'ho Queenslanci Naturalist. 
61 
forests and grasslaTids. Tliis reptile often robs fowl- 
yards, carrying off the poultry and biting the heads off. 
Birds. One of the most interesting birds of the 
Phili]>pine foj’ests is the wild fowl ((Talliis sonuerati.) 
Generally a rooster is accompanied by several hens, and 
the chances of getting near tliem are very small, as they 
are very strong fliei’S. To hear the roosters cro^eing in 
tlie jungle and answering one another np the mountain- 
side is a peculiar experience. In the silent forest the 
scund is identical witli that lieard in cities early in the 
morning. The natives say that the bones of the wild 
fowls are mncli darker than those of the domesticated^, 
variety. The domestic, fowl is one of the charaetei’istic 
features of Philippine life, almost every family owning 
at least one figliting cock. The cock-figlits are generally 
held on Sundays, but are slowing yielding popularity in 
favour of the moving picture shows. The oriole, a 
large yellow bird, is a beautiful sight in the kapok 
trees, when tliese are in full bloom, as" it moves from 
flower to floM^er amongst the red blossoms. The kala\c, 
a hornbill. is commonly met witli, and is hunted, partly 
because it is an easy mark, and partly because it is es- 
teemed as a delicacy. Snipe are abundant in certain 
districts, and are bunted at night in the rice paddie.s. 
Bats are common in the forests and live largely on 
figs and other wild fruits. During the day time many 
of them roost in houses, and at night return with their 
gatherings from the forest. These they eat in the ceiling, 
dropping the rubbish on to the floors and fm’niture 
]?elow. In the northern mountains these fruit bats are 
very large^ and form a welcome change from dog meat 
for the Tgorots. Tlie method of catching them is ini cr- 
esting. The bats usually fly no higher than they can 
help, and when passing over ridges between their roosts 
in the eaves of the mountains, choose any low saddle 
rather than the higher parts. The Tgorots cut the trees 
from these saddles and arrange a net across. The bats 
fly into the net, and a bell attached to the meshes tells 
the watchman that food is at hand. 
The eaves used by the bats are also used by the 
Tgorots in the catching of birds. A fire is built at the 
mouth of a cave and the men beat the bushes in the 
valley below. The roosting birds are frightened out and 
fly upward.s, are attracted to the light, and fly into the 
oaves, where they are killed with sticks. 
