the dugong, correctly written duyung. This remarkable
animal, of which the flesh is esculent,
and not unlike young cow-beef, is not unfre-
qùently caught at Singapore, and I have seen it
of the weight of three hundred pounds. I t is
remarkable, that the larger quadrupeds found on-
the neighbouring continent are absent not only
in Singapore, but in all the islands of the same or
smaller extent,—such - as the elephant, the rhinoceros,
the tapir, the tiger, and the leopard.
The variety of the feathered tribe in Singapore
is very considerable ; and Mons. Diard, a skilful
naturalist, who paid much attention to the subject,
informed me, that in a period of three months,
he had discovered more new species here than in
as many years over the wide extent of Cochin
China and Kamboja. Birds of prey are very few
in number ; there are not, that I am aware of,
either eagles or vultures ; and a few crows only
made their first appearance some months after the
formation of the European settlement. Gallinaceous
birds are still rarer, if indeed there exist any
at all. This is the more remarkable, since on the
neighbouring continent they are numerous, there
existing there two species of peacock, at least
three species of pheasant, including the magnificent
argus pheasant, the wild cock, and three
species of partridge. Web-footed birds are rare
in Singapore : of the genus anas there is but one
species, the whistling teal of India. The birds of
passage of this family, which are numerous beyond
the tropics, are never to be seen at Singapore or
the neighbouring countries. The most numerous
orders of birds are those of the passeres, the climbers
and wader; but especially the first, which are
remarkable alike for their novelty and beauty.
Reptiles are exceedingly numerous; among
which are tortoises, sauriens, and serpents. Of
the last; I collected, during my stay, not less than
forty species, six of which, including two species
of hooded snake, were venomous. Notwithstanding,
however, accidents from the bites of snakes
rarely occur. I do not indeed remember hearing
of a single example.
In a place little more than eighty miles from
the Equator there is of course very little variety
in the seasons. The greatest quantity of rain falls
in December and January ; but refreshing showers
are experienced .throughout the year. In 1820,
rain fell on two hundred and twenty-nine days;
in 1821, on two hundred and three days; in 1824,
on one hundred and thirty-six days; and in 1825,
on one hundred and seventy-one days; giving an
average, on four years, of about one hundred and
eighty-five rainy, and one hundred and eight dry
days. The rainy months are the coldest, namely,
December and January ; and the dryest months,
April and May, the hottest. My friend, Captain
Davies, the Military Staff Officer at Singapore,
kept, for a period of near eight years, a register of