Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mimic the former. If so, however, they must derive some advantage from the imitation, and
as they are certainly weak birds, with small feet and claws, they may require it. Now the
Tropidorhynchi are very strong and active birds, having powerful grasping claws, and long,
curved, sharp beaks. They assemble together in groups and small flocks, and they have a
very loud bawling note which can be heard at a great distance, and serves to collect a num-
ber together in time of danger. They are very plentiful and very pugnacious, frequently driv-
ing away crows and even hawks, which perch on a tree where a few of them are assembled.
It is very probable, therefore, that the smaller birds of prey have learnt to respect these birds
and leave them alone, and it may thus be a great advantage for the weaker and less cour-
ageous Mimetas to be mistaken for them. This being the case, the laws of Variation and Sur-
vival of the Fittest, will suffice to explain how the resemblance has been brought about,
without supposing any voluntary action on the part of the birds themselves; and those who
have read Mr. Darwin's 'Origin of Species' will have no difficulty in comprehending the
whole process.
The insects of the Moluccas are pre-eminently beautiful, even when compared with the
varied and beautiful productions of other parts of the Archipelago. The grand bird-winged
butterflies (Ornithoptera) here reach their maximum of size and beauty, and many of the
Papilios, Pieridæ, Danaidæ, and Nymphalidæ are equally pre-eminent. There is, perhaps, no
island in the world so small as Amboyna where so many grand insects are to be found. Here
are three of the very finest Ornithopteræ—priamus, helena, and remus; three of the hand-
somest and largest Papilios—ulysses, deiphobus, and gambrisius; one of the handsomest
Pieridæ, Iphias leucippe; the largest of the Danaidæ, Hestia idea; and two unusually large
and handsome Nymphalidæ—Diadema pandarus, and Charaxes euryalus. Among its beetles
are the extraordinary Euchirus longimanus, whose enormous legs spread over a space of
eight inches, and an unusual number of large and handsome Longicorns, Anthribidæ, and
Buprestidæ.
The beetles figured on the plate as characteristic of the Moluccas are: 1. A small speci-
men of the Euchirus longimanus, or Long-armed Chafer, which has been already mentioned
in the account of my residence at Amboyna (Chapter XX). The female has the fore legs of
moderate length. 2. A fine weevil, (an undescribed species of Eupholus,) of rich blue and
emerald green colours, banded with black. It is a native of Ceram and Goram, and is found
on foliage. 3. A female of Xenocerus semiluctuosus, one of the Anthribidæ of delicate silky
white and black colours. It is abundant on fallen trunks and stumps in Ceram and Amboyna.
4. An undescribed species of Xenocerus; a male, with very long and curious antennæ, and
elegant black and white markings. It is found on fallen trunks in Batchian. 5. An undes-
