210 Natukal History 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TIMOR GROUP. 



If we look at a map of the Archipelago, nothing seems 

 more unlikely than that the closely-connected chain of islands 

 from Java to Tunor should differ materially in their natural 

 productions. There are, it is true, certain dijBferences of cli- 

 mate and of physical geography, but these do not correspond 

 with the division the naturalist is obliged to make. Be- 

 tween the two ends of the chain there is a great contrast of 

 climate, the west being exceedingly moist, and having only 

 a short and irregular dry season ; the east being as dry and 

 parched up, and having but a short wet season. This change, 

 however, occurs about the middle of Java, the eastern por- 

 tion of that island having as sti"ongly-marked seasons as Lom- 

 bock and Timor. There is also a difference in physical ge- 

 ography ; but this occurs at the eastern termination of the 

 chain, where the volcanoes, which ai-e the marked feature of 

 Java, Bali, Lombock, Sumbawa, and Flores, turn northward 

 through Gunong Api to Banda, leaving Timor with only one 

 volcanic peak near its .centre, while the main portion of the 

 island consists of old sedimentary rocks. Neither of these 

 physical differences corresponds with the remarkable change 

 in natural productions which occurs at the Straits of Lombock, 

 separating the island of that name from Bali, and which is at 

 once so large in amount and of so fundamental a character, 

 as to form an important feature in the zoological geography 

 of our globe. 



The Dutch naturalist Zollinger, who resided a long time 

 in the island of Bali, informs us that its productions com- 

 pletely assimilate with those of Java, and that he is not 

 aware of a single animal found in it which does not inhabit 

 the larger island. During the few days which I staid on the 

 north coast of Bali, on my way to Lombock, I saw several 

 birds highly characteristic of Javan ornithology. Among 



