CH. -rai CHABACTEBISTICS OF SANGIB ISLANDS 191 



starling {Calornis sanghirensis) are little more than varieties 



of Celebean birds, but only one {Oriolus formosus) is closely 



allied to a PhiLippiQe species. It is not gouig too far to 



say that of the peculiar Sangirese birds, the majority show 



stronger affinities with the birds of Celebes than with the 



birds of the Philippines. Let us see how these facts are 



supported by other peculiarities in the avi-fauna. There 



are, as is well known, several birds in Celebes which, 



having but a limited geographical distribution beyond the 



main island, may be said to be characteristic Celebean birds. 



Of these no fewer than ten are found in the Sangir islands. 



These include the scissor-tailed bird {Chibia leucops), the 



green parrot {Tanygnathus MiiUeri), the maleo, and the 



' Maspas ' shrike {Graucalus leucopygius) . Of characteristic 



Philippine birds, on the other hand, there are only three 



found in Sangir : the lu9on parrot {Tanygnathus lugonensis), 



a nectar bird, and a variety of the Mindanao Eudynamis. 



From these facts, we can say that the greater por- 

 tion of the birds of the Sangir islands have been derived 

 from Celebes, a smaller portion only having come across 

 the straits from the southern peninsula of Mindanao. 



The fauna of these islands, then, does not afford nearly 

 sufficient evidence to enable us to decide whether there ever 

 was a former land communication between Celebes and 

 Mindanao or not. To attempt to solve this problem we 

 must have far greater knowledge of the character of the 

 sea-bottom between the islands than at present we possess. 

 But while we must be content to wait for the solution 

 of the problem, some of the natives of Celebes are quite 

 prepared with an explanation. 



' In olden times,' they say (63), 'when Makapoedellock, 

 the son of Batahansorong, was datu or prince of Mahan- 

 getang, a great part of the land was sunk into the depths 

 of the sea because he had outraged his sister Taroara. 



