chap, xvm.] OF CELEBES. 439 



closely grouped around it, we must really consider it as 

 forming one of the great divisions of the Archipelago, equal 

 in rank and importance to the whole of the Moluccan or 

 Philippine groups, to the Papuan islands, or to the Indo- 

 Malay islands (Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay 

 peninsula). Taking those families of insects and birds 

 which are best known, the following table shows the com- 

 parison of Celebes with the other groups of islands : — 



papii.ionim: and hawks, parrots, and 



pierim:. pigeons. 



Indo-Malay region 

 Philippine group 

 Celebes . . . 

 Moluccan group 

 Timor group . 

 Papuan group 



Percent, of peculiar Per cent, of peculiar 



Species. Species. 



.56 54 



.66 73 



69 60 



52 62 



42 47 



64 74 



These large and well-known families well represent the 

 general character of the zoology of Celebes ; and they 

 show that this island is really one of the most isolated 

 portions of the Archipelago, although situated in its very 

 centre. 



But the insects of Celebes present us with other pheno- 

 mena more curious and more difficult to explain than their 

 striking individuality. The butterflies of that island are 

 in many cases characterised by a peculiarity of outline, 

 which distinguishes them at a glance from those of any 



