FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 379 



oi Mus, or may be isolated survivors of an older murine fauna, of which Mm has 

 now gained the dominant position, or finally may all be independent offshoots of the 

 same central genus. Probably the second of tiiese hypotheses approaches nearest 

 to the truth, although one or two of the less differentiated genera, such as Vandeleuria, 

 may have arisen in the third way. 



In any case. Science is to be congratulated on the wonderful series of new forms 

 which Mr. Whitehead's exploration of the little plateau of Monte Data has placed at 

 her service, and I feel sure that, when they are studied by someone better able than 

 I am to make out their complicated relationships, our general knowledge of geo- 

 graphical and phylogenetic evolution will be by their aid materially increased. 



The following are Mr. Whitehead's general notes on the collection : — 



" The Mammals were collected during a period of three years spent in the Philippine 

 Islands. As my time was occupied chiefly with ornithology and no special effort was 

 made to collect Mammals, the results may be looked upon as fairly satisfactory. 



" The largest collection, and at the same time the most interesting, was formed in 

 the highlands of the Province of Lepanto, North Luzon, chiefly on Monte Data, 

 a table-topped mountain of from 7000 to 8000 feet in altitude. A few specimens come 

 from Cape Engano, the most northern point of East Luzon, and a few Rats and a new 

 Bat from the highlands of Mindoro. In Negros very few Mammals were met with. 

 In Samar several interesting forms were obtained, including Tarsius pliilipipensis, but, 

 witli the exception of a new Pigmy Squirrel, all well known to naturalists. 



" Monte Data, my chief collecting-ground, is inhabited by a peculiar wild tribe of 

 Malays, not of Negrito stock, who call themselves Igorrotes. I found them very pleasant 

 savages, and, fortunately for me, they knew the value of coins. By purchasing all the 

 animals bi'ought to my camp, I soon had quite thirty Igorrote collectors hard at work 

 most of the day with their little terriers, digging out Eats and snaring the larger 

 mammals and birds. The various small Eats they brought in alive — and often had 

 their hands much bitten — as I refused to deal in dead specimens, the skulls being 

 generally smashed to bits. In less than a month's time the tent was festooned with 

 rat-skins hanging up to dry, my collection consisting of over one hundred specimens. 

 A perusal of the list (see p. 378) will give the reader an idea of the Eodents obtained 

 on this mountain. 



" The table-top of Monte Data is perhaps over three miles long, by one mile (or more 

 in places) broad. The vegetation consists chiefly of oaks and pines, all well clothed 

 in lichen and other parasitic plants, but the undergrowth of bamboo, fern, and raspberry 

 is very thick. The ground is much burrowed by Eats ; and I may mention that the 

 largest known s])ecies of Old-World Scops Owl comes from this place, showing that 

 the food-supply is both abundant and nutritious. In Mindoro I was most unfortunate, 

 visiting that island in the wet season. We were unable to leave our tent for days 



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