ENG-1976 — Page 287

NATURAL HISTORY

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habitat, particularly for ducks and waders. Three of the species recently added to the list of birds seen in Hong Kong were recorded there-European Spoonbill, Long- tailed Skua and Chestnut-cheeked Starling.

During the year the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society published a new poster depicting 20 common Hong Kong birds and copies were widely distributed to schools. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department erected three display posters-one about egrets at Yim Tso Ha, and one about the Black-eared Kite at the Kowloon Hills and Aberdeen reservoirs. And further interest in birdlife was stimulated with the publica- tion of 'A new guide to the birds of Hong Kong'.

Of the larger indigenous mammals, the Chinese Pangolin (Scaly Anteater) is seen occasionally. It grows to a length of 34 feet and is protected by horny scales. Areas around the Kowloon reservoirs are inhabited by monkeys originated from specimens either released or escaped from captivity, and they emerge from the trees to be fed by visitors. There are now small breeding groups of both Long-tailed Macaques and Rhesus monkeys.

Smaller mammals are common, with the Grey Shrew and the House Shrew being numerous in some rural areas. The Chinese Porcupine, with its strikingly coloured black and white quills, is still present in parts of the New Territories and on Hong Kong Island.

Over the past decade wild pigs were sufficiently scarce to warrant their being protected under the law. But the numbers increased to such an extent that crop damage caused by them provoked bitter complaints from farmers. The legal protection was accordingly withdrawn in 1974, but an annual closed season from February 1 to September 30 was introduced. With a view to culling the wild pig population, strictly controlled shooting by licensed hunters is now permitted during the winter-when most of the damage to crops takes place.

Indigenous mammals which can no longer be found are the Large Indian Civet, the Crab-eating Mongoose, the Wild Red Dog or Dhole, tigers and leopards. The last recorded sighting of a leopard was in 1957. Chinese Leopard Cats have occasionally been seen, but the South China Red Fox and the Eastern Chinese Otter have not been reported for many years. The Barking Deer, once plentiful, is now rare in the New Territories and those remaining on Hong Kong Island are confined to densely wooded

areas.

Snakes, lizards and frogs are plentiful in Hong Kong. There are also various species of terrapins and turtles, although none are common. Most of the snakes are non-poisonous and death from snake bite is extremely rare. Apart from back-fanged snakes the local species of which are not dangerous to man--the venomous land snakes are: the Banded Krait, with black and yellow bands; the Many-banded Krait, with black and white bands; Macclelland's Coral Snake, which is coral red with narrow, black transverse bars; the Chinese Cobra and the Hamadryad or King Cobra, both of which are hooded; the rare Mountain Pit Viper; and the White-lipped Pit Viper or Bamboo Snake. The Bamboo Snake is bright green and, although less ven- omous than others, is not easily seen and strikes readily if closely approached. The