THE MAMMALS COLLFXTED BY DR. W. L. ABBOTT IN 

 THE RHIO LIN(;A ARCHIPELAGO. 



By Gerrit S. Miller, Jr. 



Assistant Curator, Divmon of Mamriuth. 



The Rhio-Linga Archipelago is a series of small islands extending 

 southeastward along the east coast of Sumatra from the southern 

 extremity of the Malay Peninsula. The northeriunost of the islands, 

 Karimon, Batam, and Bintang are separated from the mainland by the 

 narrow Malacca Strait on the west and Singapore Strait on the east, the 

 average width of which is only about ten miles. Singapore Strait con- 

 tains a mass of small islands on the north side, west of Singapore, which 

 narrows the open water at that point to live miles. The easternmost, 

 Karimon, Kundur, and Durei, are ecjually near the coast of Sumatra. 

 From Karimon, the northeasternmost of the group, to the south shore 

 of Sinkep, the southernmost, is a distance of about 150 miles, while 

 that from Karimon east to Panjang is about 125 miles. Near the mid- 

 dle the Archipelago is partly divided by the Rhio Strait into two main 

 groups, the Rhio" Archipelago proper at the north and the Linga 

 Archipelago at the south. The principal islands of the Rhio Archi- 

 pelago, the main axis of which extends east and west, are: Karimon^^ 

 Kundur, Durei., Durian, Sugi, Chom])ol, Bulang, Batam,'' Rempang 

 Galong, Bintang, and Panjang. Of the Linga Archipelago, the main 

 axis of which is nearly north and south, the more important islands 

 are Sehang, Bakong, Linga, and Sinl-ep. In addition to these, the 

 largest of which, Bintang, Linga, and Sinkep, are from 25 to 35 miles 

 across, the Archipelago contains an almost infinite number of smaller 

 islands and islets (see Map). 



The entire group of islands lies in shallow water, mostly within tlic 

 20-fathom line, though Malacca and Singapore Straits reach a depth 



"The spelling Rhio is found on mostGerman, English, and American maps; accord- 

 ing to the Dutch authorities it should be Eiouv. 



^The names of islands visited by Dr. Abbott are printed in italics. 

 'Visited by Mr. C. B. Kloss. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXXI— No. 1485. 



247 



