按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ch country the same deficiency and the same luxuriance is to be observed。 Out of the seventy…eight genera in which the Moluccan land…birds may be classed； no less than seventy are characteristic of Yew Guinea； while only six belong specially to the Indo…Malay islands。 But this close resemblance to New Guinea genera does not extend to the species； for no less than 140 out of the 195 land…birds are peculiar to the Moluccan islands； while 32 are found also in New Guinea； and 15 in the Indo…Malay islands。 These facts teach us； that though the birds of this group have evidently been derived mainly from New Guinea； yet the immigration has not been a recent one； since there has been time for the greater portion of the species to have become changed。 We find； also； that many very characteristic New Guinea forms lave not entered the Moluccas at all； while others found in Ceram and Gilolo do not extend so far west as Bouru。 Considering； further； the absence of most of the New Guinea mammals from the Moluccas； we are led to the conclusion that these islands are not fragments which have been separated from New Guinea； but form a distinct insular region； which has been upheaved independently at a rather remote epoch； and during all the mutations it has undergone has been constantly receiving immigrants from that great and productive island。 The considerable length of time the Moluccas have remained isolated is further indicated by the occurrence of two peculiar genera of birds； Semioptera and Lycocorax； which are found nowhere else。
We are able to divide this small archipelago into two well marked groupsthat of Ceram； including also Bouru。 Amboyna； Banda； and Ke； and that of Gilolo； including Morty； Batchian； Obi； Ternate； and other small islands。 These divisions have each a considerable number of peculiar species； no less than fifty…five being found in the Ceram group only； and besides this； most of the separate islands have some species peculiar to themselves。 Thus Morty island has a peculiar kingfisher； honeysucker； and starling； Ternate has a ground…thrush （Pitta） and a flycatcher； Banda has a pigeon； a shrike； and a Pitta； Ke has two flycatchers； a Zosterops； a shrike； a king…crow and a cuckoo； and the remote Timor…Laut； which should probably come into the Moluccan group； has a cockatoo and lory as its only known birds； and both are of peculiar species。
The Moluccas are especially rich in the parrot tribe； no less than twenty…two species； belonging to ten genera； inhabiting them。 Among these is the large red…crested cockatoo； so commonly seen alive in Europe； two handsome red parrots of the genus Eclectus； and five of the beautiful crimson lories； which are almost exclusively confined to these islands and the New Guinea group。 The pigeons are hardly less abundant or beautiful； twenty… one species being known； including twelve of the beautiful green fruit pigeons； the smaller kinds of which are ornamented with the most brilliant patches of colour on the head and the under… surface。 Next to these come the kingfishers； including sixteen species； almost all of which are beautiful； end many are among the most brilliantly…coloured birds that exist。
One of the most curious groups of birds； the Megapodii； or mound… makers； is very abundant in the Moluccas。 They are gallinaceous birds； about the size of a small fowl； and generally of a dark ashy or sooty colour； and they have remarkably large and strong feet and long claws。 They are allied to the 〃Maleo〃 of Celebes； of which an account has already been given； but they differ in habits； most of these birds frequenting the scrubby jungles along the sea…shore； where the soil is sandy； and there is a considerable quantity of debris； consisting of sticks； shells； seaweed； leaves； &c。 Of this rubbish the Megapodius forms immense mounds； often six or eight feet high and twenty or thirty feet in diameter； which they are enabled to do with comparative ease； by means of their large feet； with which they can grasp and throw backwards a quantity of material。 In the centre of this mound； at a depth of two or three feet； the eggs are deposited； and are hatched by the gentle heat produced by the fermentation of the vegetable matter of the mound。 When I first saw these mounds in the island of Lombock； I could hardly believe that they were made by such small birds； but I afterwards met with them frequently； and have once or twice come upon the birds engaged in making them。 They run a few steps backwards； grasping a quantity of loose material in one foot； and throw it a long way behind them。 When once properly buried the eggs seem to be no more cared for； the young birds working their way up through the heap of rubbish； and running off at once into the forest。 They come out of the egg covered with thick downy feathers； and have no tail； although the wings are full developed。
I was so fortunate as to discover a new species （Megapodius wallacei）； which inhibits Gilolo； Ternate； and Bouru。 It is the handsomest bird of the genus； being richly banded with reddish brown on the back and wings； and it differs from the other species in its habits。 It frequents the forests of the interior； and comes down to the sea…beach to deposit its eggs； but instead of making a mound； or scratching a hole to receive them； it burrows into the sand to the depth of about three feet obliquely downwards； and deposits its eggs at the bottom。 It then loosely covers up the mouth of the hole； and is said by the natives to obliterate and disguise its own footmarks leading to and from the hole； by making many other tracks and scratches in the neighbourhood。 It lays its eggs only at night； and at Bouru a bird was caught early one morning as it was coming out of its hole； in which several eggs were found。 All these birds seem to be semi…nocturnal； for their loud wailing cries may be constantly heard late into the night and long before daybreak in the morning。 The eggs are all of a rusty red colour； and very large for the size of the bird； being generally three or three and a quarter inches long； by two or two and a quarter wide。 They are very good eating； and are much sought after by the natives。
Another large and extraordinary bird is the Cassowary； which inhabits the island of Ceram only。 It is a stout and strong bird； standing five or six feet high； and covered with long coarse black hair…like feathers。 The head is ornamented with a large horny calque or helmet； and the bare skin of the neck is conspicuous with bright blue and red colours。 The wings are quite absent； and are replaced by a group of horny black spines like blunt porcupine quills。
These birds wander about the vast mountainous forests that cover the island of Ceram； feeding chiefly on fallen fruits； and on insects or crustacea。 The female lays from three to five large and beautifully shagreened green eggs upon a bed of leaves； the male and female sitting upon them alternately for about a month。 This bird is the helmeted cassowary （Casuarius galeatus） of naturalists； and was for a long time the only species known。 Others have since been discovered in New Guinea； New Britain； and North Australia。
It was in the Moluccas that I first discovered undoubted cases of 〃mim