Alfred Russel Wallace 



of two of the species, which were easily distinguishable 

 from each other, and I hope by staying here some time to 

 get adult specimens of all the species, and also to obtain 

 much valuable information as to their habits. The jungle 

 here is exceedingly monotonous; palms are scarce and 

 flowers almost wanting, except some species of dwarf gin- 

 ger wort. It is high on the trees that flowers are alone to 

 be found. . . . Oak trees are rather plentiful, as I have 

 already found three species with red, brown, and black 

 acorns. This is confirmatory of Dr. Hooker's statement 

 that, contrary to the generally received opinion, oaks are 

 equally characteristic of a tropical as of a temperate climate. 

 I must make an exception to the scarcity of flowers, how- 

 ever, tall slender trees occurring not unfrequently, whose 

 stems are flower-bearing. One is a magnificent object, 12 

 or 15 ft. of the stem being almost hidden by rich orange- 

 coloured flowers, which in the gloomy forest have, as I 

 have before remarked of tropical insects under similar cir- 

 cumstances, an almost magical effect of brilliancy. Not 

 less beautiful is another tree similarly clothed with spikes 

 of pink and white berries. 



The only striking features of the animal world are the 

 hornbills, which are very abundant and take the place of 

 the toucans of Brazil, though I believe they have no real 

 affinity with them; and the immense flights of fruit-eating 

 bats which frequently pass over us. They extend as far 

 as the eye can reach, and continue passing for hours. By 

 counting and estimation I calculated that at least 30,000 

 passed one evening while we could see them, and they con- 

 tinued on some time after dark. The species is probably 

 the Pteropus edulis; its expanded wings are near 5 ft. 

 across, and it flies with great ease and rapidity. Fruit 

 seems so scarce in these jungles that it is a mystery where 

 they find enough to supply such vast multitudes. 



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