The Mammalia Of Timor As Well As Those Of The Other Islands Of The
Group Are Exceedingly Scanty, With The Exception Of Bats.
These last
are tolerably abundant, and no doubt many more remain to be discovered.
Out of fifteen species known
From Timor, nine are found also in Java,
or the islands west of it; three are Moluccan species, most of which
are also found in Australia, and the rest are peculiar to Timor.
The land mammals are only seven in number, as follows: 1. The common
monkey, Macacus cynomolgus, which is found in all the Indo-Malayan
islands, and has spread from Java through Bali and Lombock to Timor.
This species is very frequent on the banks of rivers, and may have
been conveyed from island to island on trees carried down by hoods. 2.
Paradoxurus fasciatus; a civet cat, very common over a large part of
the Archipelago. 3. Felis megalotis; a tiger cat, said to be peculiar
to Timor, where it exists only in the interior, and is very rare. Its
nearest allies are in Java. 4. Cervus timoriensis; a deer, closely
allied to the Javan and Moluccan species, if distinct. 5. A wild pig,
Sus timoriensis; perhaps the same as some of the Moluccan species. 6.
A shrew mouse, Sorex tenuis; supposed to be peculiar to Timor. 7. An
Eastern opossum, Cuscus orientalis; found also in the Moluccas, if not
a distinct species.
The fact that not one of these species is Australia or nearly allied
to any Australian form, is strongly corroborative of the opinion that
Timor has never formed a part of that country; as in that case some
kangaroo or other marsupial animal would almost certainly be found
there.
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