

PREFACE. 



A HE survey of the various coasts and islands in the Eastern Seas, made by Sir 

 Edward Belcher in H.M.S. Samarang, in the years 1843-6, afforded many valuable 

 opportunities for adding to our knowledge of the Zoology of those parts of the world ; 

 and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having been pleased to sanction the 

 publication of the materials that were collected, a liberal grant was made by the Government 

 for carrying their Lordships' intentions into effect. 



The following brief retrospect of the course of the Expedition will at once point out 

 the widely-extended range of the field of our researches. 



Erom St. Jago, Cape de Verds, the Samarang passed to windward of Ascension along 

 the African coast, and, after touching at the Cape, anchored off Anger Point in Java. 

 Her course from thence was to Singapore, Sarawak, Hong-Kong, Macao, and the coast 

 of China. The Bashee Islands were next visited, and afterwards the small island of 

 Sama-Sana, viewing the coral-bound shores of Formosa on the passage. After surveying 

 Pa-tchung-san, and other islands of the Meiacoshima group, the vessel proceeded to Hong- 

 Kong ; she subsequently visited Manila, and, when the Panagatan Shoals were surveyed, 

 arrived in the Samboangan Roads, off the island of Mindanao; she shortly afterwards 

 anchored at the Island of Tawee-Tawee. The Expedition then proceeded along the east 

 coast of Borneo to the province of Unsang, and next reached Cape Rivers, in the island 



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