Mammals Collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott on the Natuna Islands: Proceedings of the Washington Academy of Sciences, Vol. III, pp. 111-138Miller, Gerrit S. (Gerrit Smith)
Philosophy
Mammals Collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott on the Natuna Islands: Proceedings of the Washington Academy of Sciences, Vol. III, pp. 111-138
Miller, Gerrit S. (Gerrit Smith)
Abbott, William Louis, 1860-1936; Mammals -- Indonesia -- Natuna Islands
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
VOL. III, PP. 111-138. MARCH 26, 1901
MAMMALS COLLECTED BY DR. W. L. ABBOTT ON THE NATUNA ISLANDS.
BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR.
About three months during the spring and summer of 1900 were spent by
Dr. W. L. Abbott in exploring the Natuna Islands in the South China
Sea.[1] Specimens were collected at the following localities: Pulo
Midei, or Low Island (May 23-26), Pulo Seraia (May 29), Sirhassen
Island (June 1-10), Pulo Subi (June 12-13), Pulo Lingung (June
17-19), Bunguran, or Great Natuna Island (June 24-July 31) and Pulo
Laut, or North Natuna Island (August 5-13). About 265 mammals were
obtained, all of which have been presented to the United States
National Museum. This paper contains an account of these, and is
published here by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution.
Two extensive collections of mammals had been made on the Natuna
Islands previous to Dr. Abbott's visit, the first by Mr. A. Everett
during September and October, 1893, the second by Mr. Ernest Hose
during July, August, September and October, 1894. These have
formed, either wholly or in part, the basis of several papers,[2]
which constitute the literature relating to the mammals of the
islands.[3] Twenty-eight land mammals have been recorded as actually
represented by specimens, though several others are mentioned which
the collectors ascertained to occur. Dr. Abbott secured forty-four
species, but failed to obtain seven[4] of those previously taken.
The total number of mammals collected on the islands thus becomes
fifty-one. This increase is due, in part to the recognition of a
larger number of insular forms than has been admitted by previous
writers, but also to a considerable extent to the actual addition
of species not hitherto taken. Species new in the latter sense
are distinguished in the present paper by absence of reference to
previous records.
In regard to the faunal relationships of the Natunas, whether
predominantly Bornean or Peninsular, about which much has been
written,[5] it may be said that this collection, together with
much of the other work recently done by Dr. Abbott, tends to show
that there is greater general uniformity in the mammalian fauna of
Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and the intervening islands than has
been hitherto supposed. It seems unprofitable therefore to offer
conjectures as to the probability of greater nearness of the Natuna
mammals as a whole to those of Borneo or to those of the Malay
Peninsula.
MANIS JAVANICA Desmarest.
1895. _Manis javanica_ THOMAS and HARTERT, Novitates Zoologicæ,
II, p. 492. December, 1895 (Bunguran).
An adult male was taken on Bunguran, June 24, 1900. Total length 914;
head and body 508; tail 406.
TRAGULUS BUNGURANENSIS sp. nov.
_Type._--Adult male (skin and skull) No. 104604 U. S. National
Museum. Collected on Bunguran Island, North Natunas, July 9, 1900.
Original number, 547.
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