W. Goodfellow—Familiar Birds of Singapore 195


left, and many birds were common then which one never sees now.

Even tigers were resident on the island, indeed the first I ever saw in a

wild state was where there is now a large resident population and

motor cars and motor buses rush through day and night. Naturally

this caused many birds formerly common to leave the island for the

mainland or only to visit it on rare occasions. This should not lessen

our interests in some of the humbler ones that remain in spite of all

that is called progress, on the contrary we should be glad that some

adapted themselves to the new conditions.


At one time Singapore was what might have been termed a green

and shady city, with many beautiful trees about everywhere. Now

every year these get less and less, in fact it seems as if there must be

someone in authority who hates the very sight of trees, and ruthlessly

cuts down every one, or so mutilates them that the remaining stumps

would be better gone altogether, so the city is getting every day more

and more a glaring shadeless mass of concrete and red tiles. This is

where everyone who has visited any of the French colonies must

admire their artistic sense. Take Saigon as an example, where every

street is a tunnel of green shade, and many of the trees bear beautiful

flowers too, in season. I only wish the authorities in Singapore had

this same sense instead of sacrificing every tree even where there

appears to be no reason for it. On every visit I find still further

favourites gone. Can we therefore expect birds to remain with all

this desecration going on. Still, as I have said, a few do, in spite of

everything.


To the observant, surely the first to attract attention should be

the White-breasted Sea Eagle [Halicetus leucogaster), whether the

visitor arrives at the docks or in the roads, especially the latter, as

every day a few may be seen circling over the shipping, and often

at rest on the long breakwater. When this was first built not so long

ago, it was a favourite resort of theirs, as much ship’s offal was

washed up on the rocks. Once when I wanted a pair, I had a permit

to catch them there, but now for some reason they seem to be leaving

it, which may be due to the increasing use of oil fuel. I wonder how

many people passing along the crowded streets ever look up to see these

majestic birds circling over the city. I don’t suppose one, yet as I



