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

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

wallace.online.org
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11.07.2015 Views

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

:chap, xiii.] THE AUSTRALIAN REGION. 423sufficiently numerous to allow us to determine their relations,and trace their origin, with unusual precision. There are 96genera and 160 species ot land-birds known to inhabit this groupof islands ;and on a careful analysis, they are found to be almostequally related to the Australian and Oriental regions, 30 generabeing distinctly traceable to the former, and the same number tothe latter. Their connection with the Moluccas is shown by thepresence of the genera Mimeta, Gcoffroyus, Cacatua, Ptilopus, andlanthcenas, together with Megapodius and Cerchneis representedby Moluccan species. Turaccena shows a connection withCelebes, and Scops is represented by a Celebesian species. Theconnection with Australia is shown by the genera Sphcecothera,Gerygone, Myiagra, Pardalotus, Gliciphila, Amadina, and Aprosmictus; while Milvus, Hypotriorchis, Eudynamis, and Eurystomus,are represented by Australian species. Other genera confinedto or characteristic of the Australian region, are Rhipidura,Monarcha, Artamus, Campcpkaga, Pachycephalia, Philemon, Ptilotis,and Myzomela.We now come to the Indo-Malay or Javan element representedby the following genera1. Turdus (T.) 11. Oriolus. 21. Yungipicus.2. Geocichla (T.) 12. Pericrocotus. 22. Merops.3. Zoothera. 13. Cyornis (T.) 23. Pelargopsis.4. Megalurus (T.) 14. Hypothyinis. 24. Ceyx.5. Orthotomus. 15. Tchitrea. 25. Loriculus.6. Pratincola (T.) 16. Lanius (T.) 26. Treron (T.)7. Oreicola (T.) 17. Anthreptes. 27. lotreron (s.g. of Ptilopus).8. Drymocataphus (T.) 18. Eulabes. 28. Chalcophaps (T.)9. Parus. 19. Estrilda (T.) 29. Gallus (T.)10. Pycnonotus. 20. Erythrura (T.) 30. Strix.Such genera as Merops and Strix, which are as much Australianas Oriental, are inserted here because they are represented byJavan species.The list is considerably swelled by genera whichhave reached Lombok across the narrow strait from Baly, buthave passed no further. Such are Zoothera, Orthotomus, Pycnonotus,Pericrocotus and Strix. A much larger number (12) stopshort at Flores, leaving only 13, indicated in the list by (T) aftertheir names, which reach Timor. It is evident, therefore, thatthese islandshave been stocked from three chief sources,—the

:chap, xiii.] THE AUSTRALIAN REGION. 423sufficiently numerous to allow us to determine <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>relations</strong>,and trace <strong>the</strong>ir origin, <strong>with</strong> unusual precision. <strong>The</strong>re are 96genera and 160 species ot land-birds known to inhabit this group<strong>of</strong> islands ;and on a careful analysis, <strong>the</strong>y are found to be almostequally related to <strong>the</strong> Australian and Oriental regions, 30 generabeing distinctly traceable to <strong>the</strong> former, and <strong>the</strong> same number to<strong>the</strong> latter. <strong>The</strong>ir connection <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moluccas is shown by <strong>the</strong>presence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> genera Mimeta, Gc<strong>of</strong>froyus, Cacatua, Ptilopus, andlanthcenas, toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>with</strong> Megapodius and Cerchneis representedby Moluccan species. Turaccena shows a connection <strong>with</strong>Celebes, and Scops is represented by a Celebesian species. <strong>The</strong>connection <strong>with</strong> Australia is shown by <strong>the</strong> genera Sphceco<strong>the</strong>ra,Gerygone, Myiagra, Pardalotus, Gliciphila, Amadina, and Aprosmictus; while Milvus, Hypotriorchis, Eudynamis, and Eurystomus,are represented by Australian species. O<strong>the</strong>r genera confinedto or characteristic <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian region, are Rhipidura,Monarcha, Artamus, Campcpkaga, Pachycephalia, Philemon, Ptilotis,and Myzomela.We now come to <strong>the</strong> Indo-Malay or Javan element representedby <strong>the</strong> following genera1. Turdus (T.) 11. Oriolus. 21. Yungipicus.2. Geocichla (T.) 12. Pericrocotus. 22. Merops.3. Zoo<strong>the</strong>ra. 13. Cyornis (T.) 23. Pelargopsis.4. Megalurus (T.) 14. Hypothyinis. 24. Ceyx.5. Orthotomus. 15. Tchitrea. 25. Loriculus.6. Pratincola (T.) 16. Lanius (T.) 26. Treron (T.)7. Oreicola (T.) 17. Anthreptes. 27. lotreron (s.g. <strong>of</strong> Ptilopus).8. Drymocataphus (T.) 18. Eulabes. 28. Chalcophaps (T.)9. Parus. 19. Estrilda (T.) 29. Gallus (T.)10. Pycnonotus. 20. Erythrura (T.) 30. Strix.Such genera as Merops and Strix, which are as much Australianas Oriental, are inserted here because <strong>the</strong>y are represented byJavan species.<strong>The</strong> list is considerably swelled by genera whichhave reached Lombok across <strong>the</strong> narrow strait from Baly, buthave passed no fur<strong>the</strong>r. Such are Zoo<strong>the</strong>ra, Orthotomus, Pycnonotus,Pericrocotus and Strix. A much larger number (12) stopshort at Flores, leaving only 13, indicated in <strong>the</strong> list by (T) after<strong>the</strong>ir names, which reach Timor. It is evident, <strong>the</strong>refore, that<strong>the</strong>se islandshave been stocked from three chief sources,—<strong>the</strong>

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