laughing note : white padi birds, curlew, sandpipers, and
a crow, are also quite common; eagles, ospreys, and
hawks also abound; and I especially noticed an eagle or
harrier circling over the grassy plains, regularly hunting
the ground, and occasionally stooping as if to secure its
prey. This bird is pure white, with black wing tips and
tail. A water-rail was seen beside the river near the
town, and night-flying birds of the owl tribe were also
observed; hut the familiar “ chuck-chuck ” note of the
f* night-jar,” so common on moonlight nights in Lahuan,
we never once heard here. I saw one large owl dead"
and much regret that I did not skin and preserve it, badly
as the thing was mutilated. It resembled our native
“ barn owl ” in general appearance and colour, but was
much larger, the spread of its soft fledged wings being
over four feet. I saw one species of hornbill on the bills
and a pheasant, which, from the momentary glimpse I
caught of it, I took to belong to the “ fireback ” species,
so common in some parts of Borneo.
Deer are said to be plentiful; but we did not catch a
glimpse of them, although when riding in the interior I
have often disturbed the wild pigs among the long-matted
grass near the river. An enormous species of day-flying
bat was quite common here near the Sultan’s palace, and
most weird and supernatural did they appear on dull
days, solemnly flying from one tree to another, their great
wings distended against the leaden sky overhead. As
far as I could see they were feeding on the durian trees
which surround the Istana, and probably sipping the
nectar from the large white flowers. I shot one which
measured four feet six inches across its outspread wings,
and its head was as large as that of a little terrier dog*
and of a similar shape, being of a dark foxey brown
colour. Its eyes were of a sickly pale brown tint, with a
small black pupil, and its entire body in the warm limpness
of death exhaled such a repulsive musky odour, far
worse than any downright stink I ever experienced, and
so penetrating and adhesive, that my hands smelt of it for
days, in spite of carbolic soap and repeated washings. I
had no means of ascertaining whether this is really a
distinct species, or whether it is conspecific with the
large nocturnal fruit-bat of Borneo, immense flocks of
which may be seen passing overhead at dusk to their
feeding-grounds, the fruit orchards.
Of all the smaller forms of animal life in temperate
countries the butterflies are the most absolutely beautiful.
In the tropics they are especially so, being there
found of the largest size and most lovely hues. In the
rice fields and by the open pathways, lively little goldenwinged
kinds flutter in the sunshine. Some are quite
wholly golden, others amber, with black fringes to their
wings; many varieties enliven the river margins, and
others sail aloft around the tops of the great forest trees.
The nearly dry bed of a forest stream is an attractive
spot to many of the finest tropical butterflies, especially
if it be chequered with shade and sunshine. In such a
place they may be seen by the hundred, flitting, fluttering,
skimming or wobbling to and fro, enlivening the
cool greenery with their colour, beauty, and variety of
motion. Here you see them at home and happy. Their
colours defy description* so variable do they appear as
seen in the sunlight; sulphur and black, amber and blue,
velvety bands, purple shot with bronze, wings of blue,
inclining to green, and of green inclining to blue, and
of velvety blackness banded with pea or apple-green, are
only a few of their combinations. Their beauty of
presence is so satisfying, that we almost forget their life
history, the egg so dainty in form, and often so beautiful