422 
ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. 
[PART III. 
velopment in size, form, and colour, until they become positively 
injurious. This law may not improbably apply to the New 
Guinea fauna itself, as compared with that of Borneo or any 
other similar country ; and some of its peculiarities (such as its 
wonderful paradise-birds) may be due to long isolation, and con- 
sequent freedom from the influence of any competing forms. 
The difference between the very sober colours of the Coleoptera, 
and in a less degree of the birds, of Borneo, as compared witli 
their brilliancy in New Guinea, always struck me most forcibly, 
and was long without any, even conjectural, explanation. It is 
not the place here to go further into this most curious and 
interesting subject. The reader who wishes for additional facts 
to aid him in fonning an opinion, should consult Mr. Darwin’s 
Descent of Man, chapters x. to xv. ; and my own Contributions 
to the Theory of Natural Selection , chapters iii. and iv. 
Timor Group. — Mammalia. — In the group of islands between 
Java] and Australia, from Lombok to s Timor inclusive, we find a 
set of mammals similar to those of the Moluccas, but some of 
them different species. A wide-spread species of Guscus repre- 
sents the Papuan element. A Sorcx and a peculiar species of 
wild pig, we may also accept as indigenous. Three others have 
almost certainly been introduced. These are, (1.) Macacus cyno- 
molgus, the very commonest Malay monkey, which may have 
crossed the narrow straits from island to island between Java 
and Timor, though it seems much more probable that it was in- 
troduced by Malays, who constantly capture and rear the young 
of this species. (2.) Cervus timoriensis, a deer, said to be a dis- 
tinct species, inhabits Timor, bub it is probably only a variety of 
the Cermis hippelaphm of Java. This animal is, however, much 
more likely to have crossed the sea than the monkey. (3.) Para - 
doxurus fasciatus, takes the place of Vwerra tangalunga in the 
Moluccas, both common and wide-spread civets which are often 
kept in confinement by the Malays. The Fells megalotis, long 
supposed to be a native of Timor, has been ascertained by Mr. 
Elliot to belong to a different country altogether. 
Birds. — The birds are much more interesting, since they are 
