FAUNA AND FLORA

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the remainder of the indigenous Rhesus Monkeys which less than a hundred years ago were found on most of the small islands near Hong Kong. Another interesting mammal, seldom seen due to its secretive and largely nocturnal habits, is the primitive Chinese Pangolin or Scaly Ant-eater. Other indigenous mammals are the Chinese Ferret-Badger and the Eastern Chinese Otter. Civets are represented in the Colony by three species, the Large Chinese Civet, the Rasse or Small Indian Civet, and the Masked Palm Civet. A close relative of the civets is the Crab-eating Mongoose, of which there is at least one record but which is not known to have occurred in recent years.

Reeves' Muntjac (Barking Deer) inhabits various hilly wooded localities both on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories, where it is hunted and is becoming scarce. On Hong Kong Island on account of its shyness and nocturnal habits this attractive little deer may seem to be much less numerous than is actually the case. It is, in fact, troublesome at times, as it destroys garden produce in The Peak district. The Wild Boar, which is hunted both for sport and because of its destructive habits to agriculture, is now extremely scarce and the present status of this animal in several parts of its former range is unknown.

The Chinese Porcupine, our largest rodent, is found in parts of Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. Small mammals include an insectivore, the House Shrew, various rodents, and several species of bats. Among the rodents there is the Smaller Bandicoot Rat which, in spite of its name, is the largest rat found in the Colony; it is entirely 'wild' (non- domestic) in habits and sometimes causes considerable dam- age to crops. Very little is known of the bats, which are represented by both insectivorous and frugivorous species.

Cetaceans occurring within or near Hong Kong territorial waters include the Common Rorqual or Finback Whale (a single record—during 1955), the Black Finless Porpoise and the Common Dolphin.

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