WCP2364

[1]

Singapore.

July 20th 1878.

My dear Sir

It will be of interest to you to know that the fact of the Anoa depressicornis (or allied species) existing in Mindoro no longer admits of doubt. I had previously made many inquiries of persons acquainted with Mindoro – and wa lately when visiting the museum of the College of Sto Thomas in Manila I lit upon an imperfect specimen of the animal itself. Having the description of the Celebes species by me, I cannot say whether the Philippine animal belongs to a distinct variety or not. The Professor of Natural History who showed me round the Museum had labelled the specimen as Anoa depressicornis, he being under the idea that it was peculiar to Mindoro and not knowing of its being found in Celebes. It was of an uniform reddish-brown, — blacker brown on the face, — and with one small creamy-white spot on the cheek. The specimen was ♂. I have not been able to get any reliable evidence that the Anoa is found also in Mindanao and Luzon, as I [2] at first reported. Its occurrence in Mindoro has caused me to feel doubt whether the Cynopithecus may not also prove to inhabit the same island, though absent in others. Since my letter of April 13^th,¹ I have met with two other mammals, viz., a Deer from the chief island of the Sulu group, of which I have sent a detailed description to Dr. Günther, and a squirrel from Basilan, resembling the small mouse-like Sciurus exilis of Borneo. With regard to the Anoa, it can be of little use commenting on the significance of its occurrence in the Philippines until something more is known about the general fauna of Mindoro. As yet, I think, absolutely nothing whatever has been recorded on the subject. My arrangements, however, will not admit of my visiting the island until the close of next year.

I remain | yours sincerely | A Everett² [signature]

A. R. Wallace Esq.