HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

of Kwangtung and Hong Kong has been added to considerably since their time. At present over 26,000 specimens are preserved.

The trees of Hong Kong are described and illus- trated in the annual reports for 1950 to 1953.

Mammals

Although the majority of mamalian species in the Colony are not

not seen often enough to make them familiar, as a class they are represented in considerable diversity. Members of the cat family include the tiger, an occasional visitor, the leopard which is much rarer, and the Chinese Tiger Cat, the present status of which is not known but which may still occur in some of the more remote parts on the mainland. The Dhole or Wild Red Dog and the South China Red Fox have been listed in the Colony's fauna, the former as occur- ring in the hills of the mainland, the latter on the Island as well as the mainland. The otter has also been listed but likewise is not common and does not occur on the Island.

Three species of civets-the large Chinese Civet, the Malacca Civet and the Masked or Gem-faced Civet are known to occur in the Colony. Probably only the Malacca Civet is common and it is interesting to note that the flesh of this animal is much prized by the Chinese as food in the cold weather. The Crab-eating Mongoose and the Ferret-Badger also occur, the latter being quite common.

The Barking Deer or Muntjac, although fairly plentiful in many wooded districts, is rarely seen in the day-time. It may occasionally be seen at night,

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