Mammals Collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott on the Natuna Islands / Proceedings of the Washington Academy of Sciences, Vol. III, pp. 111-138

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.

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