I now propose to examine the best known groups of Celebesian animals in some detail, to study their relations to those of other islands, and to call attention to the many points of interest which they suggest.
We know far more of the birds of Celebes than we do of any other group of animals.

No less than 191 species have been discovered, and though no doubt, many more wading and swimming birds have to be added; yet the list of land birds, 144 in number, and which for our present purpose are much the most important, must be very nearly complete.

I myself assiduously collected birds in Celebes for nearly ten months, and my assistant, Mr.Allen, spent two months in the Sula islands.

The Dutch naturalist Forsten spent two years in Northern Celebes (twenty years before my visit), and collections of birds had also been sent to Holland from Macassar.

The French ship of discovery, L'Astrolabe, also touched at Menado and procured collections.