The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...
The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ... The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...
;68 DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. [part i.Australia by an arbitrary east and west line, and a union of thenorthern two-thirds with New Guinea, the southern third withNew Zealand. Hardly less unnatural is the supposed equivalenceof South Africa (the African temperate realm) to alltropical Africa and Asia, including Madagascar (the Indo-African tropical realm). South Africa has, it is true, somestriking peculiarities ; but they are absolutely unimportant ascompared with the great and radical differences between tropicalAfrica and tropical Asia. On these examples we may fairlyrest our rejection of Mr. Allen's scheme.We must however say a few words on the zoo-geographicalnomenclature proposed in the same paper, which seems alsovery objectionable. The following terms are proposed : realm,region, province, district, fauna and flora ; the first being thehighest, the last the lowest and smallest sub-division. Consideringthat most of these terms have been used in very differentsenses already, and that no means of settling their equivalencein different parts of the globe has been even suggested,such acomplex system must lead to endless confusion. Until thewhole subject is far better known and its firstprinciples agreedupon, the simpler and the fewer the terms employed the better ;and as " region " was employed for the primary divisions byMr. Sclater, eighteen years ago, and again by Mr. AndrewMurray, in his Geographical Distribution of Mammals ;nothingbut obscurity can result from each writer using some new, anddoubtfully better, term. For the sub-divisions of the regionsno advantage is gained by the use of a distinct term— " province"—whichhas been used (by Swainson) for the primarydivisions, and which does not itself tell you what rank it holdswhereas the term " sub-region " speaks for itself as being unmistakablynext in subordination to region, and this clearness ofmeaning gives it the preference over any independent term.As to minor named sub-divisions, they seem at present uncalledfor; and till the greater divisions are themselves generallyagreed on, itseems better to adopt no technical names for whatmust, for a long time to come, be indeterminate.Does the Arctic Fauna characterize an independentRegion.—
chap, iv.] ZOOLOGICAL REGIONS. 69The proposal to consider the Arctic regions as constituting one ofthe primary zoological divisions of the globe, has been advocatedby many naturalists. Professor Huxley seems to consider itadvisable, and Mr. Allen unhesitatingly adopts it, as well as an" antarctic " region to balance it in the southern hemisphere.The reason why an " Arctic Eegion " finds no place in this workmay therefore be here stated.No species or group of animals can properly be classed as" arctic," which does not exclusively inhabit or greatly preponderatein arctic lauds. For the purpose of establishing theneed of an " arctic "zoological region, we should consider chieflysuch groups as are circumpolar as well as arctic ; because, ifthey are confined to, or greatly preponderate in, either theeastern or western hemispheres, they can be at once allocated tothe Nearctic or Palasarctic regions, and can therefore afford nojustification for establishing a new primary division of theglobe.Thus restricted, only three genera of land mammalia are trulyarctic : Gulo, Myodes, and Rangifcr. Two species of widelydispersed genera are also exclusively arctic, Ursits maritimusand Vilifies lagopus.Exclusively arctic birds are not much more numerous. Ofland birds there are only three genera (each consistingof but asingle species), Pinicola, Nyctea, and Surnia. Lagopus is circumpolar,but the genus has too wide an extension in thetemperate zone to be considered arctic. Among aquatic birdswe have the genus of ducks, Somateria ; three genera of Uriidse,Uria, Catarractes, and Mergulus ; and the small family Alcidse rconsisting of the genera Alca and Fratercula. Our total thenis, three genera of mammalia, three of land, and six of aquaticbirds, including one peculiar family.In the southern hemisphere there is only the single genusAptenodytes that can be classed as antarctic ; and even that ismore properly south temperate.In dealing with this arctic fauna we have two courses opento us ; we must either group them with the other species andgenera which are common to the two northern regions, or we
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;68 DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. [part i.Australia by an arbitrary east and west line, and a union <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>nor<strong>the</strong>rn two-thirds <strong>with</strong> New Guinea, <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn third <strong>with</strong>New Zealand. Hardly less unnatural is <strong>the</strong> supposed equivalence<strong>of</strong> South Africa (<strong>the</strong> African temperate realm) to alltropical Africa and Asia, including Madagascar (<strong>the</strong> Indo-African tropical realm). South Africa has, it is true, somestriking peculiarities ; but <strong>the</strong>y are absolutely unimportant ascompared <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> great and radical differences between tropicalAfrica and tropical Asia. On <strong>the</strong>se examples we may fairlyrest our rejection <strong>of</strong> Mr. Allen's scheme.We must however say a few words on <strong>the</strong> zoo-<strong>geographical</strong>nomenclature proposed in <strong>the</strong> same paper, which seems alsovery objectionable. <strong>The</strong> following terms are proposed : realm,region, province, district, fauna and flora ; <strong>the</strong> first being <strong>the</strong>highest, <strong>the</strong> last <strong>the</strong> lowest and smallest sub-division. Consideringthat most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se terms have been used in very differentsenses already, and that no means <strong>of</strong> settling <strong>the</strong>ir equivalencein different parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> globe has been even suggested,such acomplex system must lead to endless confusion. Until <strong>the</strong>whole subject is far better known and its firstprinciples agreedupon, <strong>the</strong> simpler and <strong>the</strong> fewer <strong>the</strong> terms employed <strong>the</strong> better ;and as " region " was employed for <strong>the</strong> primary divisions byMr. Sclater, eighteen years ago, and again by Mr. AndrewMurray, in his Geographical Distribution <strong>of</strong> Mammals ;nothingbut obscurity can result from each writer using some new, anddoubtfully better, term. For <strong>the</strong> sub-divisions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> regionsno advantage is gained by <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> a distinct term— " province"—whichhas been used (by Swainson) for <strong>the</strong> primarydivisions, and which does not itself tell you what rank it holdswhereas <strong>the</strong> term " sub-region " speaks for itself as being unmistakablynext in subordination to region, and this clearness <strong>of</strong>meaning gives it <strong>the</strong> preference over any independent term.As to minor named sub-divisions, <strong>the</strong>y seem at present uncalledfor; and till <strong>the</strong> greater divisions are <strong>the</strong>mselves generallyagreed on, itseems better to adopt no technical names for whatmust, for a long time to come, be indeterminate.Does <strong>the</strong> Arctic Fauna characterize an independentRegion.—
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