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Show 1888.] HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 531 ranging from the Himalayas to Java, is strong evidence in favour this view. It may be noted, however, that two species of Shrew- Mouse occur in the Austro-Malay region, viz. Sorex myosurus, found in the Moluccan Islands as well as in Sumatra, Borneo, and Java1, and Sorex tenuis, supposed to be peculiar to the island of Timor 2. The genus Mus, to which the two other species belong, is widely spread over the Archipelago. It is interesting to notice that the fruit-eating Bat has its nearest ally in the island of Lombok. Turning to the Birds, we find evidence that they have been derived, not from the Indo-Malay region, but from the islands on the Australian side of the separation line, some ten degrees to the east. Thus we have a representative of the genus Urospizias, which is limited on the west side of its range by the Moluccas and Lombok. The group of the genus Ninox, to which the Christmas Island bird belongs, is confined to the Austro-Malay subregion and Northern Australia. The Thrush has no near ally in the neighbourhood. The Zosterops and Collocalia belong to widely distributed genera, but the nearest ally of both is found in the Austro-Malay subregion, one in the island of Mysori, north of New Guinea, the other in Timor Laut. The Chalcophaps has allies in both the Indian and Australian regions, while the Carpophaga belongs to the section of the genus extending from the Malay Archipelago eastward among the Pacific Islands. It appears probable that Christmas Island has received immigrants from both the Indo-Malay and Austro-Malay subregions; but so far as the birds are concerned, the influence of the latter is much more distinctly marked. In conclusion, I wish to express m y thanks to Capt. Aldrich, R.N., for the manner in which he forwarded m y plans in every way during our visit to the island ; and to the officers and men of H.M.S.' Egeria,' who assisted in making collections. Many of the most interesting specimens that were found were obtained by them. I was most fortunate in obtaining the services of Fuller-the blue-jacket whom Capt. Aldrich chose to help me, and who proved a most diligent and able assistant in skinning and in other ways. At home, I wish to express m y thanks to Mr. R. B. Sharpe, for the readiness with which he facilitated my work at the British Museum ; to Canon Tristram for the very kind way in which he allowed m e access to his collection ; and to Mr. Henry Seebohm for assistance given me in many ways. 1 Wallace, Malay Archipelago, vol. ii. p. 141. 2 Op. cit. vol. i. p. 326. |
