1888.] HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 531 



ranging from the Himalayas to Java, is strong evidence in favour of 

 this view. It may be noted, however, that two species of Shrew- 

 Mouse occur in the Austro-Malay region, viz. Sorex myosurus, 

 found in the Moluccan Islands as well as in Sumatra, Borneo, and 

 Java\ and Sorex tenuis, supposed to be peculiar to the island of 

 Timor ^ 



The genus Mus, to which the two other species belong, is widely 

 spread over the Archipelago. 



It is interesting to notice that the fruit-eating Bat has its nearest 

 ally in the island of Lombok. 



Turning to the Birds, we find evidence that they have been de- 

 rived, not from the Indo-Malay region, but from the islands on the 

 Australian side of the separation line, some ten degrees to the east. 

 Thus we have a representative of the genus Urospizias, which is 

 limited on the west side of its range by the Moluccas and Lombok. 

 The group of the genus Ninox, to which the Christmas Island 

 bird belongs, is confined to the Austro-Malay subregion and Northern 

 Australia. The Thrush has no near ally in the neighbourhood. 

 The Zosterops and Collocalia belong to widely distributed genera, 

 but the nearest ally of both is found in the Austro-Malay subregion, 

 one in the island of Mysori, north of New Guinea, the other in 

 Timor Laut. The Ghalcophaps has allies in both the Indian and 

 Australian regions, while the Carpophaga belongs to the section of 

 the genus extending from the Malay Archipelago eastward among 

 the Pacific Islands. 



It appears probable that Christmas Island has received immigrants 

 from both the Indo-Malay and Austro-Malay subregions ; but so far 

 as the birds are concerned, the influence of the latter is much more 

 distinctly marked. 



In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to Capt. Aldrich, R.N., 

 for the manner in which he forwarded my plans in every way during 

 our visit to the island ; and to the officers and men of H.M.S. ' Egeria,' 

 who assisted in making collections. Many of the most interesting 

 specimens that were found were obtained by them.. I was most 

 fortunate in obtaining the services of Fuller — the blue-jacket whom 

 Capt. Aldrich chose to help me, and who proved a most diligent and 

 able assistant in skinning and in other ways. 



At home, I wish to express my thanks to Mr. R. B. Sharpe, for 

 the readiness with which he facilitated my work at the British 

 Museum ; to Canon Tristram for the very kind way in which he 

 allowed me access to his collection ; and to Mr. Henry Seebohm for 

 assistance given me in many ways. 



' Wallace, Malay Archipelago, vol. ii. p. 141. 

 - Of. cit. vol. i. p. 326. 



