Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
exactly opposite to that which produced the wingless birds (the Apteryx, Cassowary, and
Dodo), appears to have here taken place; and it is curious that in both cases an insular habit-
at should have been the moving cause. The explanation is probably the same as that applied
by Mr. Darwin to the case of the Madeira beetles, many of which are wingless, while some
of the winged ones have the wings better developed than the same species on the continent.
It was advantageous to these insects either never to fly at all, and thus not run the risk of be-
ing blown out to sea, or to fly so well as to be able either to return to land, or to migrate
safely to the continent. Bad flying was worse than not flying at all. So, while in such islands
as New Zealand and Mauritius, far from all land, it was safer for a ground-feeding bird not
to fly at all, and the short-winged individuals continually surviving, prepared the way for a
wingless group of birds; in a vast Archipelago thickly strewn with islands and islets it was
advantageous to be able occasionally to migrate, and thus the long and strong-winged vari-
eties maintained their existence longest, and ultimately supplanted all others, and spread the
race over the whole Archipelago.
Besides this pigeon, the only new bird I obtained during the trip was a rare goat-sucker
(Batrachostomus crinifrons), the only species of the genus yet found in the Moluccas.
Among my insects the best were the rare Pieris aruna, of a rich chrome yellow colour, with
a black border and remarkable white antennæ—perhaps the very finest butterfly of the
genus; and a large black wasp-like insect, with immense jaws like a stag-beetle, which has
been named Megachile pluto by Mr. F. Smith.
*
I collected about a hundred species of beetles
quite new to me, but mostly very minute, and also many rare and handsome ones which I
had already found in Batchian. On the whole I was tolerably satisfied with my seventeen
days' excursion, which was a very agreeable one, and enabled me to see a good deal of the
island. I had hired a roomy boat, and brought with me a small table and my rattan chair.
These were great comforts, as, wherever there was a roof, I could immediately instal myself,
and work and eat at ease. When I could not find accommodation on shore I slept in the boat,
which was always drawn up on the beach if we stayed for a few days at one spot.
On my return to Batchian I packed up my collections, and prepared for my return to Tern-
ate. When I first came I had sent back my boat by the pilot, with two or three other men who
had been glad of the opportunity. I now took advantage of a Government boat which had
just arrived with rice for the troops, and obtained permission to return in her, and accord-
ingly started on the 13th of April, having resided only a week short of six months on the is-
land of Batchian. The boat was one of the kind called 'Kora-kora,' quite open, very low, and
about four tons burthen. It had outriggers of bamboo about five feet off each side, which
supported a bamboo platform extending the whole length of the vessel. On the extreme out-
