THE ZOOLOGY OF SINGAPORE. 
596 
gracula ancl paroquets are to be seen flying from jungle te jungle ; 
birds of the following genera are to be found in the forests—alcedo, 
buceros, dacelo, 1 ami us, oriolus, parra, podargus, and phanico- 
phaus, with two or three species of woodpeckers, and the caprinul- 
gus; water-fowl are rare, the only species met with are a diver, now 
and then a solitary teal and the pelican, a few herons and water 
rails complete the list of all the birds I have ever m^t with on the 
island. 
REPTILES. 
Alligators are common up the salt water creeks and along the 
shores of the island, but being so well fed from the abundance, of 
fish they are not troublesome. 
Turtle are to be found in the market daily, some of a very large 
size; although so tenacious of life they are difficult of transportation, 
from the mode of capture adopted by the Malays who generally 
spear them ; a person who wishes to take them for sea stock ought 
to examine well whether they be wounded, otherwise he will be 
disappointed by finding them die a few days after they are on 
board. They Malays themselves do not eat the flesh, they are 
consequently very cheap. One weighing 50 or 60 pis can be pur¬ 
chased for a dollar and a half. 
Snakes are not numerous, the most common is a black cobra. 
I have killed several of this species myself within the last twelve 
months. I believe this with a species of trigonocephalus are the only 
well authenticated venomous species on the island. The first possesses 
the peculiar property of ejecting venom from its mouth, the Ma¬ 
lays say that there is no cure for the bite. I have seen it prove 
fatal to a fowl in 2 or 3 minutes, but have not observed its effects 
upon large animals ; those I have killed here measured from 4| to 
51 feet in length ; the reptile being slow and sluggish in its move¬ 
ments is easily overtaken and killed, when attaked it erects the body; 
. and dilates the skin on either side of the head uttering a noise like 
that of an irritated cat, when if approached it throws to the distance 
of from 6 to 8 feet a venomous fluid of most poisonous quality. 
I had the opportunity a few weeks ago of observing its effects upon a 
Chinese who had the fluid projected into his eye, the lid of which 
was much swollen and closed and the conjunctiva a bright red 
within a few minutes of the accident. The snake was killed and 
brought in by one of the man’s comrades, he applied to me for 
medical aid but upon my recommending the application of Leeches 
he went off and I know not the result of the case. About a year ago 
I saw two dogs deprived,of sight from a similar occurrence. The 
fluid as I have seen it thrown from the mouth is perfectly clear 
but appears viscid, the drops which fell being larger than globules 
of water. There are large colubers and other snakes but I believe 
all harmless. 
