Gilolo. All these insects are represented of the natural
size.
Like the birds, the insects of the Moluccas show a
decided affinity with those of New Guinea rather than
with the productions of the great western islands of the
Archipelago, but the difference in form and structure between
the productions of the east and west is not nearly
so marked here as in birds. This is probably due to the
more immediate dependence of insects on climate and
vegetation, and the greater facilities for their distribution
in the varied stages of egg, pupa, and perfect insect.
This has led to a general uniformity in the insect-life
of the whole Archipelago, in accordance with the general
uniformity of its climate and vegetation; while 011
the other hand the great susceptibility of the insect
organization to the action of external conditions has led to
infinite detailed modifications of form and colour, which
have in many cases given a considerable diversity to the
productions of adjacent islands.
Owing to the great preponderance among the birds, of
parrots, pigeons, kingfishers, and sunbirds, almost all of gay
or delicate colours, and many adorned with the most
gorgeous plumage, and to the numbers of very large and
showy butterflies which are almost everywhere to be met
with, the forests of the Moluccas offer to the naturalist
a very striking example of the luxuriance and beauty of