JAVA. 
91 
The male is green on the breast and back, the tail and head metallic green, while the 
throat is deep claret with a necklace of metallic purple, but its most beautiful ornaments are 
the tufts of fluffy white feathers on the flanks. A splendid Golden Oriole ( Oriolus maculatus) 
was fairly common ; and another interesting species Avas a long-tailed Shrike ( Lanins bentet ) 
which has the peculiar habit of skimming through the air for long distances doAvn the 
mountain sides with motionless AA T ings, steering itself by its long tail. One of the commoner 
birds was a new species of Zosterops , which has been described by Mr. Seebohm under the 
name of Z. neglect a. Two pretty Flycatchers, Avhich I afterwards met with for the first 
time on Kina Balu, and Avhich are Avell-knoAvn Himalayan species, were also common 
(Muscicapula maculata and M. hyperythra). Another species of tropical Flycatcher, a bright 
rosy Minivet ( Pencrocotus miniatus ), was occasionally met Avith in small flocks; this species 
frequented the maize-plantations, in which there were numbers of trees in blossom diming 
this month, their floAvers being bright red like the Minivets, and amongst these floAvers 
they invariably settled AA T hen disturbed. Sometimes in the cabbage-fields a small covey of 
Avild foAvls ( Gallus varius ) Avould be met Avith, but those I shot Avere unfortunately 
immature. 
Thus in the distant highlands of Java Ave find the botanical and zoological inhabitants 
in many cases only slightly different from our old familiar European species. This to the 
inquiring mind unfolds the marvellous history of the past, showing us Iioav these distant 
mountain tops have in remote ages probably been directly connected with, or at any rate 
received their liidng organisms from, the great Asiatic continent, Avhich the long isolation 
together Avith climatic and other influences have now rendered specifically distinct from 
their ancestral types. When the highlands of the Malay Archipelago are explored, those 
countries Avhich contain mountains of any altitude over 7000 feet, unless of comparatively 
modern volcanic origin, Avill in all probability contain old Asiatic continental species. 
The A\ T eather for the most part of my visit Avas perfect; toAvards mid-day mists would 
often envelop the mountain, ending in a slight shower, Avhich left the atmosphere clear 
again before sunset. The coldest night registered in August Avas 50° Fahr., the Avarmest 54°; 
this temperature is, however, really very cold after the heat of the lowlands. The day 
temperature ranged betAveen 66° and 75°, a most pleasant and invigorating atmosphere to 
live in. 
Early in September I made an excursion, accompanied by a young Dutchman, to the 
crater of the Bromo. After reaching the top of the spur on Avhich Tosari is situated, the 
bridle-path runs for some distance along the ridge, then gradually slopes into a valley 
covered Avith a forest of Casuarina pines, rising again until the rim of the crater is reached, 
Avhen by a steep zigzag path the sandy desert is gained. We started from the hotel at 
5.30 a.m., mounted on ponies, and sloAvly ascended the Tosari spur; Avhen the top of this 
is reached a wonderful panorama of distant hills and valleys unfolds itself to the view, but 
toAvering above all is one of the finest sights in Java, the cone of the Smeroe, an active 
volcano of 12,000 feet, Avhich in the clear morning air looks but a short distance off. 
The summit of this volcano is bare some distance down, before the forest belt begins, 
forming a black ring round the pinkish-coloured conical top. After standing expectant 
some time—Avaiting for the next eruption—slowly a small ball issues from the point of the 
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