THE GREAT OCEAN. 367 



seldom wanting in the South Sea islands, where he 

 can find subsistence. 



The Fauna of the Sunda islands presents us, for 

 the most part, with the same families and genera 

 that are natives of Southern Asia, but many of the 

 species are peculiar to them. 



Among a numerous varietyof apes, we distingirish 

 the ouran-outang, the species most similar to man, 

 and the nearest relation to which is found in Africa. 

 We found also the Asiatic elephant, a peculiar 

 species of the rhinoceros, several stags, swine, &c. 



The Mammalia^ found in New Holland, have 

 almost throughout shown new genera and species, 

 and new and singular forms. The kangaroo, the 

 largest of the species yet examined, is but small, 

 compared with the animals of the other continents, 

 but the existence of larger hitherto unknown 

 species, is certified by the testimony of several 

 travellers. The difference between the birds of 

 the two countries is less striking. Of two kinds 

 of cassiowary, one is found on the Sunda islands, 

 the other in New Holland. 



The islands are the richest in birds : parrots, 

 fowls, and pigeons, and the genus bticeros, are the 

 most remarkable. 



The Psittacusjbrmostcs and the Menura are two 

 kinds pecuhar to New Holland. The birds of 

 paradise seem to belong exclusively to New 

 Guinea, a country with which we are at present 

 so Imperfectly acquainted. 



