The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...

422 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGEAPHY. [part hi.velopment in size, form, and colour, until they become positivelyinjurious. This law may not improbably apply to the NewGuinea fauna itself, as compared with that of Borneo or anyother similar country ; and some of its peculiarities (such as itswonderful paradise-birds) may be due to long isolation, and consequentfreedom 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 withtheir brilliancy in New Guinea, always struck me most forcibly,and was long without any, even conjectural, explanation.It isnot the place here to go further into this most curious andinteresting subject. The reader who wishes for additional factsto aid him in forming an opinion, should consult Mr. Darwin'sDescent of Man, chapters x. to xv. ; and my own Contributionsto the Theory of Natural Selection, chapters iii.and iv.Timor Group.— Mammalia.—In the group of islandsJava and Australia, from Lombok tobetweenTimor inclusive, we find aset of mammals similar to those of the Moluccas, but some ofthem different species. A wide-spread species of Cuscus representsthe Papuan element. A Sorex and a peculiar species ofwild pig, we may also accept as indigenous. Three others havealmost certainly been introduced. These are, (1.) Macacus cynomolgus,the very commonest Malay monkey, which may havecrossed the narrow straits from island to island between Javaand Timor, though it seems much more probable that itwas introducedby Malays, who constantly capture and rear the youngof this species. (2.) Cervus timoriensis, a deer, said to be a distinctspecies, inhabits Timor, but it is probably only a variety ofthe Cervus hippelaphus of Java. This animal is, however, muchmore likely to have crossed the sea than the monkey. (3.) Paradoxurusfasciatus, takes the place of Viverra tangalunga in theMoluccas, both common and wide-spread civets which are oftenkept in confinement by the Malays. The Feli-s megalotis, longsupposed 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