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CHAPTER XXVIT. 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MOLUCCAS. 



rpHE Moluccas consist of three large islands, Gilolo, 

 Ceram, and Boiiru, the two former being each about 

 two hundred miles long ; and a great number of smaller 

 isles and islets, the most important of which are Batchian, 

 Morty, Obi, K6, Timor-laut, and Amboyna ; and among 

 the smaller ones, Ternate, Tidore, Kaioa, and Banda. These 

 occupy a space of ten degrees of latitude by eight of 

 longitude, and they are connected by groups of small islets 

 to New Guinea on the east, the Philippines on the north, 

 Celebes on the west, and Timor on the south. It will be 

 as well to bear in mind these main features of extent and 

 geographical position, while we survey their animal pro- 

 ductions and discuss their relations to the countries which 

 surround them on every side in almost equal proximity. 



We will first consider the Mammalia, or warm-blooded 

 quadrupeds, which present us with some singular anomalies. 

 The land mammals are exceedingly feM^ in number, only 



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