30 
REVIEWS. 
Contributions to the Natural History of Labuan and the Adjacent 
Coasts of Borneo. By James Motley, of Labuan, and Lewis Llewellyn 
Dillwyn, F.L.S., etc. Part I., pp. 62,with twelve coloured Plates. Square 
8vo. London: John Van Voorst. July 2nd, 1855. Price,^lOs.^d. 
“The residence of Mr. Motley in Labuan,” says the prospectus to this 
part, “ affords himself and Mr. Dillwyn, the authors of the proposed 1 Con¬ 
tributions,’ an opportunity of making themselves acquainted with the 
natural products of that island; and believing that the nature of its Fauna 
is by no means thoroughly known to Zoologists, and that the habits of the 
animals constituting that Fauna have been but little observed, and also 
considering that such information respecting them as they have already 
obtained, and shall probably again obtain, may prove an acceptable con¬ 
tribution to the science of Zoology, they are induced to offer to naturalists 
the forthcoming publication.” 
Never before, we believe, has the attempt been made to write a Natural 
History of Labuan or Borneo. 
In the earlier years of our childhood—when the adventures of Robinson 
Crusoe were thrown aside for some of the more truth-telling stories of 
voyagers round the world, we can recollect with what avidity we perused 
the accounts of their visits to the spice islands of Asia. We fancied what 
a Paradise all and each of them must have been; and we wondered why the 
sea captains did not draw up their wearied vessels on the loud resounding 
sea shore, and spend the remainder of their lives amid the spicy breezes 
that blew soft throughout these isles. Why it is we cannot say, but much 
of this fascination still clings to us, and any work that tells us aught about 
them will still be a welcome one to us, even though the stern east winds of 
reality have somewhat dissipated the light mists of our boyish fancy. 
Doubtless, our readers have lately been familiar with the name of Borneo, 
as connected with Rajah Sir James Brooke. But we now wish them to 
think of it in connection with that of James Motley, in whom we gladly 
welcome the natural historian of this hitherto much neglected place. 
These contributions are to contain descriptions of such vertebrate and 
invertebrate animals as may inhabit the island, accompanied with notes on 
their habits. Illustrations of the rarer animals are to be given, and it is 
expected that two or three parts shall be published annually. The part 
before us is the first of the series, and contains, in addition to sixty-two 
pages of letterpress, twelve beautifully-coloured plates, containing figures 
of two mammals, five birds, and five reptiles, all drawn by J. Wolf, an artist 
whose representations bear the impress of nature, without any exaggera¬ 
tion of form or colour. 
