The Birds of Celebes and the Neighbouring Islands

Abstract

FEW regions of the world approach in interest to the naturalist the wide Archipelago strung upon the equator, between the Asiatic and the Australian continents, both of which claim a share in the broken lands between which Wallace's Line rides the marches. Of all these islands none perhaps have attracted more attention than Celebes, notably on account of its strange configuration, but especially from its central position in the archipelago which has given a remarkable character to its fauna, the affinities of which have bandied it from one to the other of the two zoological realms between which it lies. To which of them it will finally appertain must still remain an open question till it has been more fully explored, botanically as well as zoologically. Towards the settling of this question, however, Dr. Meyer, the distinguished Director of the Royal Museum in Dresden, in collaboration with Mr. L. W. Wiglesworth, has made a notable contribution in the work under notice, wherein the ornithology of the Celebesian area (as the authors name the main island plus the neighbouring islet groups in its immediate vicinity) is discussed. Both authors have brought special qualifications to their task, for both have large experience as observers in the field, Dr. Meyer having several years' personal knowledge of the area in question. That every care has been taken by them in the preparation of this monograph is testified to by the six years of constant toil which the subject has exacted from them.

The Birds of Celebes and the Neighbouring Islands.

By A. B. Meyer L. W. Wiglesworth. Two volumes. Pp. xxxiii, 392 and 590; with 45 plates and 7 maps. (Berlin: R. Friedlander und Sohn, 1898.)