hermaphroditus_), a civet cat (_Viverricida indica_), the Javanese ichneumon (_Herpestes javanicus_), and _Priodon gracilis_ may also be mentioned. In 1820, 176 species of birds were known in Java; by 1900 Vorderman and O. Finsch knew 410. Many of these are, of course, rare and occupy a limited habitat far from the haunts of man. Others exist in myriads and are characteristic features in the landscape. Water-fowl of many kinds, ducks, geese, storks, pelicans, &c., give life to sea-shore and lake, river and marsh. Snipe-shooting is a favourite sport. Common night-birds are the owl (_Strix flammea_) and the goat-sucker (_Caprimulgus affinis_). Three species of hornbill, the year-bird of the older travellers (_Buceros plicatus_, _lunatus_ and _albirostris_) live in the tall trees of the forest zone. The Javanese peacock is a distinct species (_Pavo muticus_ or _spiciferus_), and even exceeds the well-known Indian species in the splendour of its plumage. _Gallus Bankiva_ is famous as the reputed parent of all barn-door fowls; _Gallus furcatus_ is an exquisitely beautiful bird and can be trained for cock-fighting. Of parrots two species only are known: _Palaeornis Alexandri_ or _javanicus_ and the pretty little grass-green _Curyllis pusilla_, peculiar to Java. As talkers and mimics they are beaten by the _Gracula javanensis_, a favourite cage-bird with the natives. A cuckoo, _Chrysococcyx basalis_, may be heard in the second zone. The grass-fields are the foraging-grounds of swarms of weaver-birds (_Plocula javanensis_ and _Ploccus baya_). They lay nearly as heavy a toll on the rice-fields as the gelatiks (_Munia oryzivora_), which are everywhere the rice-growers' principal foe. Hawks and falcons make both an easy prey. The _Nictuarinas_ or honey-birds (eight species) take the place of the humming-bird, which they rival in beauty and diminutiveness, ranging from the lowlands to an altitude of 4000 ft. In the upper regions the birds, like the plants, are more like those of Europe, and some of them--notably the kanchilan (_Hyloterpe Philomela_)--are remarkable for their song. The edible-nest swallow (_Collocalia fuciphaga_) builds in caves in many parts of the island.[8]