216 Natueal History 



though the birds of this group are on the whole almost as 

 much Indian as Australian, yet the species which are peculiar 

 to the group are mostly Australian in character, and also 

 why such a large number of common Indian forms which ex- 

 tend through Java to Bali should not have transmitted a 

 single representative to the islands further east. 



The Mammalia of Timor as well as those of the other 

 islands of the group are exceedingly scanty, with the excep- 

 tion of bats. These last are tolei'ably abundant, and no 

 doubt many more remain to be discovered. Out of fifteen 

 species known from Timor, nine are found also in Java, or 

 the islands west of it ; three are Moluccau species, most of 

 which are also found in Australia, and the rest are peculiar 

 to Timor. 

 , The land mammals are only seven "in number, as follows : 



1. The common monkey (Macacus cynomolgus), which is found 

 in all the Indo-Malayan islands, and has spread from Java 

 through Bali and Lombock to Timor. This species is very 

 frequent on the banks of rivers, and may have been convey- 

 ed from island to island on trees carried down by floods. 



2. Paradoxurus fasciatus ; a civet-cat, very common over a 

 large part of the Archipelago. 3. Felis megalotis ; a tiger- 

 cat, said to be peculiar to Timor, where it exists only in the 

 interior, and is very rare. Its nearest allies are in Java. 4. 

 Cervus timoriensis ; a deer, closely allied to the Javan and 

 Moluccan species, if distinct. 5. A wild pig (Sus timorien- 

 sis) ; perhaps the same as some of the Moluccan species. 6. 

 A shrew-mouse (Sorex tenuis) ; supposed to be peculiar to 

 Timor. 1. An Eastern opossum (Cuscus orientalis) ; found 

 also in the Moluccas, if not a distinct species. 



The fact that not one of these species is Australian, or 

 nearly allied to any Australian form, is strongly corrobora- 

 tive of the opinion that Timor has never formed a part of 

 that country; as in that case some kangaroo or other mar- 

 supial animal would almost certainly be found there. It is 

 no doubt very difficult to account for the presence of some 

 of the few mammals that do exist in Timor, especially the 

 tiger-cat and the deer. We must consider, however, that 

 during thousands, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of 

 years, these islands and the seas between them have been 



