GEOGRAPHICAL 
The sub-region as outlined above can be broadly cliarac- 
tcHs^-'d by the presence of the orang-utan, the siamang. the 
flyitig-lemur and the beautiful argus-pheasant. The probable 
recent geographical changes in the "Malay Archipelago" are 
happily discussed by Wallace in several of his books and 
perusal of his accounts will show how by the submersion of 
one island and by the elevation of other land here and there 
the Malaysian fauna has been divided and re-united several 
times, thus accounting for some of the knotty points in the 
distribution of some species mentioned above. The effect of 
such changes are easier to appreciate when one realizes that 
a very moderate depression, Wallace says perhaps 500 feet, 
would convert Borneo into an island shaped something like 
Celebes; while if the sea-bottom were raised half that amount, 
the Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Bali would all be- 
come again parts ef one great land-mass. 
* * * -tk 
As may be expected the birds t ' Singapore are very 
simjiar to those of Johore and the ni. ^^ubouring countries. 
A year or two ago* we summarlKed the 1 ird life and conditions 
of the island as follows: — 
*'Tbe avifauna of Singapore Island is characteristic of the. 
lowlands of the southern half of the Malay Peninsula. No 
striking anomalies are presented. The Waders, other mi- 
grants, and the few sea-fowl that approach the port are species 
just as frequently met with on the coasts of the Straits of 
Malacca. 
"The present absence of any extent of old jungle is now 
responsible for th'; great scarcity, or even total absence, of 
certain species not uncommon in Johore, although it is easy 
to believe that some of these birds occurred on the island 
before the settlement was so large. The gradual extension of 
the city must perforce drive the birds away. It is stated that 
a few years ago green pigeons were to be seen in the Raffles 
Museum compound and kingfishers flew up and down the canal 
in Stamford Road. Such events are now^ remarkable. So far 
as birds are concerned. Singapore is not the home of the 
luxuriant, thriving life one b led to expect after digesting the 
literature dealing with natural history in the tropics. 
*"Tkf Singitpffre Natur^isV\ Vol. 1., No. 2, April iqjj, 
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