ENG-1953 — Page 236

GENERAL-FAUNA

Fauna

The year 1953 has held considerable interest in several branches of zoology. Although there have been no discoveries of animals new to science, various mammals, birds and insects, previously rare or unrecorded from the Colony, have been reported by reliable observers.

Investigation following the report of a large cat-like animal with two cubs seen in June, on a hill north east of Kai Tak, left little doubt that these were Indian Panthers (Leopards), the rarest of the felines known to occur in the Colony. Monkeys, although rare now, may still be seen occasionally on Hong Kong island, and the otter which is protected by law and one of the rarest mammals in the Colony, was observed during the year.

Birds hitherto unrecorded but seen during 1953 include the Red Avadavat, Chinese Herpornis, David's Grasshopper- Warbler, Eastern Great Reed-Warbler, Arctic Willow-Warbler, Pale-legged Willow-Warbler, Eastern Terek Sandpiper, Eastern Broad-billed Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Swinhoe's Egret, Glossy Ibis and Tibetan Tern. The record of outstanding interest is the unexpected migratory visit of the Glossy Ibis.

A small frog from Lamma Island, mentioned in last year's report as being new to science, has been described as Philautus romeri by Dr. Malcolm Smith of the British Museum.

Various butterflies have been recorded in the Colony for the first time during 1953, details of which may be found in a paper by Major J. N. Eliot (see Reading List).

Information on the wild life of the Colony can be obtained by reference to various publications included in the Reading List, and a general idea of the local fauna (especially the vertebrates) may be gained from the Annual Reports for 1947 and 1949. Readers desiring further information may seek this from either the University's Department of Biology or the Hong Kong Biological Circle.

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