S. Porter—Wanderings in the Far East



243



from our European one. It fishes in the true- Kingfisher style and is

to be seen darting low over the waters of the creeks or sitting on the

aerial roots of the mangrove trees just above the water waiting for

its prey.


The most beautiful of all is the lovely Pileated or Black-capped

Kingfisher ( Halcyon pileata) a bird of multi-coloured plumage and

of larger size, its brilliant plumage is set off by a large red beak. As if

conscious of its vivid coloration it is shy and rather suspicious, and

it is very difficult to get a close view. It is a bird almost exclusively

of the mangrove swamps and is seldom seen inland. It feeds mainly

on crabs and no doubt on the quaint mud-skippers which are seen

in thousands on the banks of the creeks or basking on the roots of

the trees. Another Kingfisher sometimes seen and never forgotten

is the unique Buddy or Lilac (. Halcyon coromanda), which is clad in

a very peculiar shade of brilliant golden rufous shot with shining lilac

or mauve with the back silvery blue. Seen flashing through the sombre

tunnels of green vegetation over the inlets which intersect the swamps

it presents a picture of incredible beauty. It is shy and wary and

is the least common of the lot. I only saw it in the vast mangrove

swamps which border the coast of Selangor.


The beautiful Chestnut-backed Bee-eater ( Merops viridis), is

commonly seen in pairs hawking for insects over the creeks in the

swamps, its favourite perch being on an exposed branch overhanging

the stream from which it takes excursions over the water for flying

insects. These birds are not suspicious like the Kingfishers, and they

will allow one almost to pass beneath them before taking wing. At

times I have seen them hawking for insects with the Swallows out

over the sea at the mouths of the creeks.


Perhaps the most brilliant or at least the most conspicuous bird

of the swamps is the Black-naped Oriole ( Oriolus chinensis indicus).

A bird of the most vivid golden yellow and black plumage and with

a loud melodious call. It is a bird which would catch the eye of the

most unobservant and the sight of this brilliant creature flashing

through the cool green archways over the streams lingers long in

one’s memory. It is only a winter visitor, returning to China and

Manchukuo in the spring to breed.



