74 



Whilst the foregoing latitudes and longitudes are not measured to a second, I believe they are generally within 

 a mile or less than a mile of the localities named. One or two places are not yet to be found in the latest maps, and 

 therefore the exact position could not be given. 



THE GENUS ORNITHOPTERA. 



At the head of the genus Ornithoptera is the type species, 0. Priamus — a grand form from which all the numerous, 

 so-called species, varieties and aberrations, included within the black and green groups, and also the black and violet, 

 and black and yellow-red forms have probably been originated. If this is really the original type form, it would seem to 

 have steadily maintained its position in a comparatively limited region, while its offshots have gradually spread in every 

 direction over an immense extent of the Eastern world — including portions of New Guinea and Australia and New 

 Britain. But Priamus (type) has not, so far as I can trace, been taken in any locality beyond what may be called the 

 Ceram Archipelago, including the Ceram Laut Islands, and I possess a specimen of the $ said to have been taken in 

 the fairly large island of Buru or Bouru, as Wallace spells it, which is situated at some distance to the west of Ceram. 



At present therefore we have these localities recorded for Priamus, viz. : Amboyna, Ceram, Ceram Laut, Buru, 

 and Saparua ; but as regards the largest island there appears to be no definite information as to the exact districts of 

 Ceram where the examples of the insect have been taken, which is much to be regretted. However, such information 

 may yet be obtained : in which case it will be included in one of the appendices to the 2nd vol. of this work. 



Amboina (or Amboyna as it is often spelled), which the Malays call the island of Ambun, is the locality from 

 which the majority of the specimens have been brought. It is a small island about 32 miles long and 10 miles broad, 

 situated in S. lat. 3 40' and between 128 and 129 E. longitude. It lies south-west of the large island of Ceram, and 

 east of the island of Buru. It is so near to Ceram as to be, at its nearest point, not more than 4 or 5 miles from the 

 opposite coast ; and there is little doubt that originally Ceram, Amboina, with the intervening islands, and Buru were 

 all connected. Like so many of the islands of the Eastern Archipelago, it is very irregular in shape for so small a mass 

 of land — being indented by a bay so deep that the island is almost divided into two portions, which at the head of this 

 bay are only united by a narrow isthmus. These portions are unequal in area — that to the north-west, which is called 

 Hitoe, comprising fully 2-3rds of the island. Leytimer is the name of the remaining third. Within the strait between 

 Amboina and Ceram, or to the north of Amboina, are 3 small islands, Saparua or Saparoua, where Priamus has been 

 taken, Oma and Harocha. The Bay of Amboyna is 15 miles long from its entrance, but while its breadth varies 

 considerably, it is in some parts not more than a mile across. Like Buru and Ceram it is a very mountainous and 

 wooded country, and is drained by several small rivers, which during the season of excessive rainfall, are so swollen as 

 to form mighty torrents, which overflow their banks, and sweep everything away that is met with in their furious 

 progress. In the dry season these rivers become so shallow as to be not more than 2 or 3 feet deep. The most 

 important of these streams originate in the mountains of Leytimor on the eastern part of the island. The arboreal 

 wealth of the island is so great that Rumphius, the great naturalist, was able to account for over 400 different species— 

 but very little of this timber is of much value for the more useful purposes. The trees and underwood, in their possession 

 of the rich,- loamy red soil of the island, are only limited by the numerous clove plantations cultivated by the Dutch 

 Government and private enterprise. Formerly the Government took the entire responsibility and profit of this cultiva- 

 tion, making the growth of the clove a monopoly even for the island ; compelling the inhabitants of the other islands of 

 the Moluccas to destroy every plant under heavy penalties, in order that this unwise and tyrannical monopoly for Amboina 

 should be secured. At the present time, however, both the Government and private speculators cultivate this valuable 

 spice plant in several of the neighbouring islands, as well as in Java. Amboyna is fairly healthy, notwithstanding the 

 heavy rainfall — the temperature being so equable as to average only from 72 to 82 fahr. 



Amboyna produces all the vegetables and fruits common to the Eastern Archipelago ; in its woods deer and wild 

 hogs abound. Its coasts are rich in shells, many of them large in size, splendid in colour, and beautiful in form. The seas 

 are" also famous for their zoological wealth generally : sponges, corals, actiniae, and fishes of unimaginable colour, form, 

 and dimensions, abounding. Dr. Bleeker has recorded 780 species of fishes as having been discovered in and around 

 the island. On land the most remarkable of the bird fauna is the great Black Cockatoo, Microglossia aterrimus of Gmelin. 

 By means of the island of Saparua continuous line of locality to Ceram is assured for 0. Priamus. No doubt the 

 species may some day be taken, if it has not been before, in the neighbouring islets of Oma and Haroche. It is 

 impossible to say how far this species ranges over Ceram— as our specimens are not carefully labelled with their proper 

 localities. Ceram is a mountainous country— for a great chain forms its vertebra, running through the centre of the 

 island from east to west, a length of about 185 miles, its highest point being more than 7,000 feet above sea level. This 

 mountain chain might prove a barrier to the existence of Priamus on some parts of Ceram. The average width of the 

 island is about 30 miles. Whilst Amboyna produces three species of Ornithoptera, besides many of the noblest 

 butterflies and beetles in the world, Ceram is apparently much less rich in these forms of animal life, according to the 

 experience of Mr. Wallace— though many fine things must have been taken in the island ; and only a very small 

 proportion of its insect fauna can yet have been discovered. 



Ceram is the largest of the Molucca islands with one exception (that of Gilolo) ; though not so strangely irregular 

 in shape as the latter. Its average breadth is about 30 miles ; and were it not for the peninsula of Hoewamochil, or 

 little Ceram— its form would present very little novelty from that of any ordinary island. This peninsula is united at 

 its western extremity by a narrow, irregularly-curved isthmus, called the Pass of Tamoeno. There is little doubt that 

 Amboina was once a continuation of this neck of land. A group of 3 small islets flanks this land on the west. At the 

 east end of the island is the cluster called the Ceram Laut Islands. The soil in the valley is as usual very fertile ; and 

 the peninsula at one time was abundant in its production of cloves and nutmegs, which were destroyed by the Dutch in 

 1657. The island also is famous for its forests of the Sago Palm. 





