n6 MOSTLY MAMMALS 



and a palm-civet ; and although it is quite possible that 

 they may have been introduced by the Malays (as some of 

 them appear to have been into the Moluccas), the absence 

 of any typically Australasian mammals except a cuscus 

 (whose presence may be accounted for in the same way as 

 in Celebes) is, to say the least, very remarkable. More- 

 over, the birds of Timor show at least as many Oriental 

 as Australasian features, and it accordingly seems more 

 consonant with the known facts to regard the whole 

 chain of the Sunda Islands, which are geographically one, 

 as having formed a part of the old Asiatic continent. 



Possibly my readers may think I have written a very 

 dull and uninteresting article, and that it is a matter of 

 very little importance indeed what were the former relations 

 of a number of obscure Malay islands. And in one sense 

 this is undoubtedly the case. But all those who have once 

 essayed the study of the distribution of animals cannot fail 

 to be fascinated by the problems it presents; and in no 

 case are these problems more difficult to solve than in the 

 eastern islands of the Malay Archipelago. As evidence of 

 the interest attaching to Celebes, I cannot do better than 

 conclude by an extract from Dr. Wallace's " Island Life." 



"There is no other example," it is written, "on the 

 globe of an island so closely surrounded by other islands 

 on every side, yet preserving such a marked individuality 

 in its forms of life ; while, as regards the special features 

 which characterise its insects, it is, so far as is yet known, 

 absolutely unique. Unfortunately, very little is known of 

 the botany of Celebes, but it seems probable that its plants 

 will to some extent partake of the speciality which so 

 markedly distinguishes its animals; and there is here a 

 rich field for any botanist who is able to penetrate to the 

 forest-clad mountains of its interior." 



