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?"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Schafer, Louis S. "The Deepstar 4000," The Compass: A Magazine of the Sea, Vol. 56, No. 1 (1986)

The bright illuminating lights were turned on as he [Joe Thompson] maneuvred the craft [the Deepstar 4000 ] along the San Diego Trough at a depth of 4000 feet [in June 1966]. Suddenly, as Thompson looked out the pilot's viewport, a giant fish swam into view under the port. He looked directly into one of its eyes, which later he described as the size of a dinner plate. As the fish quickly moved on, Thompson could see the silt swirling from the bottom of the ocean. Finally as the enormous fish passed, he saw its serrated tail and he judged it to be nearly 40 feet in length: Joe Thompson was also certain that the fish had possessed scales
Read more

Anstruther, Robert H. "A Strange Sea Reptile," The Spectactor (4 March 1922)

In the spring of 1910, when I was in command of the 'Caesar,' battleship, steaming towards the Clyde and between the coast of Ireland and the Isle of Man, I was on the bridge, in broad daylight, when a creature leapt out of the water close to the ship and shot straight up into the air about forty or fifty feet, and came down spread-eagle fashion. It had the appearance of a chameleon, though shorter in proportion, and was about the size of the skinned chow-dogs one sees hanging outside the butchers' shops of Canton. I called the navigating officer from the standard compass, and as he got to my side the creature leapt again, and we both had a good look at it. I have never been able to get any information about such a thing from books or from people, and had almost given up the quest when I saw the banner of the Ancient Town of Rye. The banner is copied from the seal of the town. The seal is very old and represents the arms of Rye (three figures, half lion, half line o' b
Read more

Ogilvie-Grant, William Russell, "The Expedition of the British Ornithologists' Union to the Snow Mountains of New Guinea: Part VI, The Discovery of a Pigmy Race," Country Life, Vol. 27, No. 700 (4 June 1910)

There can be no doubt that besides the mammalia already known to inhabit New Guinea, many remain to be discovered. Some very large animal is reported to occur in the mountains. Its presence was first indicated by Mr. C. A. W. Monckton, who, during his ascent of Mount Albert Edward in the west of British New Guinea, discovered the huge footprints and very large droppings of some cloven-footed monster which had evidently been browsing on the grassy plains surrounding the lakes on the summit, at an elevation of about twelve thousand five hundred feet. Unfortunately, he was unable to gain any information respecting this animal from the natives, who hunt all over the mountain, as they proved extremely hostile to his expedition. Among the Europeans at Port Moresby this creature is now commonly known as Monckton's "Gazeka," but up to the present time no one has attempted to return to Mount Albert Edward and procure a specimen. Mr. Monckton stated that Sir William Macgregor had
Read more