THE ZOOLOGY OF SINGAPORE. 
595 
superior in flavour and delicacy, is the Cervus Muntjok or 
Kijang (Malay) ; this animal so well described by Horsfield is 
about the size of a sheep and the flesh is really excellent venison. 
There are also three species of the Moschidoe called by the Malays 
Napu, Palando, and Kanchil of the respective sizes of a small 
Goat, Hare and Rabbit; the first is the only eatable one of the 
three, the Palando and Kanchil, having too much of the game 
flavour; they are all most graceful and elegant in form, and 
well worth a place in any Zoological collection, but from their 
feeding only on leaves peculiar to our jungles it ishiearly impossible 
to transport them alive to other countries. 
There are abundance of Monkeys, the common grey and a 
couple of other species. 
The Pteromys, or what is known by the name of Plying 
Squirrel, is uot uncommon, in former years they were to be 
seen almost every evening on the Government hill sailing from 
tree to tree, but have retired before clearing and cultivation. 
BIRDS. 
Of the feathered tribe although we possess a greater variety 
than the class Mammalia, we are far from having the diversity 
to be found in the Peninsula, being deficient in the whole Rasorial 
order, if I except a small Quail of which there are two species; 
the only game to be found are snipes, which abound from 
October until March and even later. 
About our houses are to be seen numbers of the common and 
Java sparrows; crows are so scarce that I have never seen more 
than a pair together, and that very seldom. A pretty little Bird 
with an agreeable note of the genus Motacilla frequents our gardens, 
and the Prinia Pamiliaris and Jora of Horsefild are occasionally 
to be met with. 
In the secondary jungle that springs up after the destruction of 
the original forest, is to be seen the Buhut or Centeopus Buhutus, 
sailing from bush to bush, his gay plumage too often causing his 
destruction from the keenness of young sportsmen who occasionally 
suppose him to be a pheasant, indeed I have known some shoot 
and eat him afterwards, not discerning their mistake.^ 
There are several species of wild pigeon. The Pirgam (Malay) 
one third larger than the common domestic bird, the Rowa Rowa, 
(Malay) a white pigeon with bluish wings about the size of the 
domestic pigeon. The Punei (Malay) or small green pigeon and 
tw r o or three species of Dove, are numerous. Plocks of the grey 
plover and starlings are to be seen on the plains during the rains 
from October till March. Of the raptorial order we have the follow¬ 
ing genera, halietus, accipiter, milvus, and vultur, also that perfect 
type of the true falcons, the beautiful little falco ccerulescens, which 
although not ranch larger than a sparrow will kill and carry off a bird 
the size of a thrush; of owls there are 2 or 3 species, flocks of 
