WCP2353

[1]

Placer. N. E. Mindanao.

July 16^th. 1877

Dear Sir

I have just read with great interest your resumé in the "Geograp. Distribution"¹ of what is known of the zoographical relationship of the Philippine Archipelago. I am now travelling in the Philippines with the object of collecting the Birds chiefly, but I hope also to transmit from time to time small collections of the other Vertebrate classes and also of the insects, which cannot fail to be of use in defining more precisely the place of the archipelago in the Oriental region. The Birds will be examined by the Marquis of Tweeddale² and I believe M^r. Higgins³ will submit the Mammals, Reptiles, & Fish to Mr D^r. Gunther⁴ previous to their dispersal by sale. Although I have been at work only a few months, the results obtained in regard to the Birds go far to justify your opinion — that, though many new species doubtless remained to be discovered, it was improbable that such discovery would materially alter the broad general characteristics of the fauna of these islands as already known. I have procured representatives of some of the most typical Indo-Malayan genera, and these not in [illeg.] districts like Palawan and Sooloo, but in Cebu in the centre of the Archipelago and in Surigao and Dinagat on its Eastern limits. In Cebu I obtained a small wholly green Phyllornis, in Surigao a Macronus, and in the island of Dinagat a small Malacopteron and a Cymbirynchus. These I have already sent to England together with three or four species of Sun-Birds (AEthopyga? and Anthreptes?) and some other birds, which, having no book of reference of any kind, I cannot name with any certainty. The Phyllornis, Macronus, and Malacopteron all closely resemble the common Bornean species but are all stunted in size.

In regard to the Mammalia I have sent little as yet and (with the exception of the Galeopithecus) they are very scarce in the islands I have visited. I have reports however both from Europeans and natives of several species not heretofore recorded. Among these are a Tupaia in Mindanao and a "blind earth-rat" said to live underground in Cebu in burrows, where it is sometimes met with in digging wells. A Moschus is said to occur in Balabac, which seems probable enough, and small "leopards" in Palawan — perhaps a re- [2] representative species of one of the small Bornean felines. I have also the description of an animal inhabiting the Calamaines which can only apply to a Gymnura; whilst in Mindoro there is said to be a deer (?) with horns like those of Cervus Muntjac before the tynes are developed. I hope to have the opportunity of testing these reports in the course of the year, and, even if they prove to be unfounded, I can hardly doubt that the exploration of Balabac, Palawan, and the Calamaines will yield new mammals to swell the present meagre list. And it is more than possible that this chain of islands though politically Philippine will be found to be geographically Bornean. It has occurred to me as I write that the existence of Megapodius in Labuan may serve as a hint towards determining a point of connexion of Palawan with the mainland of Borneo. I think M^r. Low⁵ sent Calaenas also from Labuan. Neither Calaenas nor Megapodius were met or even heard of by me during the seven years I resided in Sarawak — part of which time I lived close to the Brunei frontier. I believe that the Monsoons play a not unimportant part in determining the order introduction of species of birds in Borneo and the Philippines, and some with change of species may now be in process through their agency; but their influence would not affect the problem of the distribution of a bird with the habits of Megapodius. I do not know how Megapodius is distributed in the Philippines; but the Calaenas has been recorded by Peale⁶ from the island of Mangsi and it occurs in Cebu, Leyte, and Mindanao and is, I suspect, to be found on most of the islands.

It is a curious fact that no monkeys are found in Dinagat nor, by the testimony of the Padre⁷ and the natives, in the island of Siargao farther to the eastward. Both islands are of considerable extent, mountainous, and covered with virgin forest which affords a variety of fruits, and in both are found deer, rivernidae, Tarsius, Galeopithicus, squirrels and I believe wild pigs — in fact all the mammals of the neighbouring larger islands except the [illeg.] monkeys. These latter animals are sufficiently abundant on the mainland of the Surigao peninsula, which is separated from Dinagat by a strait 3 or more miles wide, and also in Leyte and Panaon, and island at the southern extremity of Leyte.

In one of your letters⁸ written to me in Sarawak you mentioned an anomalous insect and intimated that Sir J. Lubbock⁹ was anxious to obtain specimens. I sent to M^r. Cutter¹⁰ a large series immediately after but as I broke off my connexion [3] connexion with him about that time I did not hear if the specimens reached their destination. I also kept a number of these insects in confinement in a glass jar with moss, rotten wood &c, for six weeks with the view of ascertaining something about their embryology; but though I was thus enabled to collect some notes on their habits, I observed nothing that could go to prove whether they were mature or in a larval stage. I subsequently found another variety in S'wak somewhat larger and wanting the three broad dorsal plates; and lately in Dinagat I came across a third variety, similar to the first but with all the dorsal plates lined along their exterior edges with bright orange. Of these I have transmitted a suite to M^r. Higgins.

When you see M^r. Mitten¹¹ will you kindly inform him that I am collecting the mosses but they are too few to send at present.

I remain, dear Sir, | yours truly | A Everett¹² [signature]

A. R. Wallace Esq^re.