ENG-1954 — Page 314

THE GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING

however, especially when caught in the headlights of a car. On account of its shyness and nocturnal habits this small deer may seem to be less common than is actually the case; the Peak district on the Island is still to be included amongst its haunts. Wild Boar inhabit certain wooded districts on the mainland, notably the Sai Kung, Sha Tau Kok, Pat Sin Range and Tai Po areas. It is of interest that the average number of young in a brood appears to be only four in this Colony.

Monkeys are occasionally to be seen but whether these are specimens of the indigenous but very rare Rhesus Monkey, it is impossible to say.

An animal of particular interest is the Scaly Anteater or Pangolin which feeds to a great extent on termites. Although on record as occurring both on the mainland and Hong Kong Island, it is now rare.

Porcupines which are to be found on Hong Kong Island and on the mainland are our largest rodents and liable on occasion to damage crops and trees. Next in size among the rodents is the Smaller Bandicoot Rat, first known from Nepal and discovered here in 1946 on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories. This is a large ground-living rat which does not enter houses. The two common domestic rodent pests are the cosmopolitan Common or Brown Rat and the Buff-breasted Rat, a small brown South Chinese race of the well-known Black or Ship Rat. House mice are not numerous but seem to be replaced to a limited extent by the House Shrew, the latter an insectivore a little smaller than a rat with sharply pointed snout and a strong musky odour.

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