Walker, Alfred O. "The Rhinoceros in New Guinea," Nature, Vol. 11 (4 February 1875), p. 268

I was no doubt wrong in speaking of the occurrence of the rhinoceros in Papua as a fact without the qualification "if confirmed;" but I wrote in a hurry.

From the details supplied by Mr. Smith, which I annex, I think there is at least a very strong possibility that there is a rhinoceros in Papua, and the object of my letter will have been attained if it causes explorers on the north coast of that island to look after it, and at the same time places Mr. Smith's name on record as the discoverer of its indications.

"1. The heap of dung first seen, which was quite fresh (not having apparently been dropped more than half an hour), was so large that it excited Mr. Smith's curiosity, and he called Captain Moresby to see it. Neither of them knew what animal to assign it. Quantities of dry dung were afterwards seen.

"2. Shortly afterwards, the Basilisk being at or near Singapore, Capt. Moresby and Mr. Smith paid a visit to the Rajah of Johore, who had a rhinoceros in confinement. Mr. Smith at once observed and pointed out to Capt. Moresby (who agreed with him) the strong resemblance between the dung of this animal and that they had seen in Papua.

"Seeing there is no animal known in Papua bigger than a pig; seeing also that Mr. Wallace has pointed out the African affinities of many of the animals in the islands he associates with Papua; seeing also that the Sumatran rhinoceros approaches the African in having two horns and no shields or folds in its hide, why should there not be a rhinoceros in Papua approaching still nearer to the African type, or furnishing an additional piece of evidence in favour of Mr. Wallace's hypothesis of a submerged continent connecting New Guinea, &c., with Africa?"

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