116 MOSTLY MAMMALS 
and a palm-civet; and although it is quite possible that 
they may have been introduced by the Malays (as some of 
them appear to have been into the Moluccas), the absence 
of any typically Australasian mammals except a cuscus 
(whose presence may be accounted for in the same way as 
in Celebes) is, to say the least, very remarkable. More- 
over, the birds of Timor show at least as many Oriental 
as Australasian features, and it accordingly seems more 
consonant with the known facts to regard the whole 
chain of the Sunda Islands, which are geographically one, 
as having formed a part of the old Asiatic continent. 
Possibly my readers may think I have written a very 
dull and uninteresting article, and that it is a matter of 
very little importance indeed what were the former relations 
of a number of obscure Malay islands. And in one sense 
this is undoubtedly the case. But all those who have once 
essayed the study of the distribution of animals cannot fail 
to be fascinated by the problems it presents; and in no 
case are these problems more difficult to solve than in the 
eastern islands of the Malay Archipelago. As evidence of 
the interest attaching to Celebes, I cannot do better than 
conclude by an extract from Dr. Wallace’s “Island Life.” 
“There is no other example,” it is written, ‘‘on the 
globe of an island so closely surrounded by other islands 
on every side, yet preserving such a marked individuality 
in its forms of life; while, as regards the special features 
which characterise its insects, it is, so far as is yet known, 
absolutely unique. Unfortunately, very little is known of 
the botany of Celebes, but it seems probable that its plants 
will to some extent partake of the speciality which so 
markedly distinguishes its animals; and there is here a 
rich field for any botanist who is able to penetrate to the 
forest-clad mountains of its interior.” 
