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 ...
74 DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. [part i.seated local peculiarities. Two portions can be marked off aspossessing many peculiar forms ; the luxuriant forest districtof equatorial West Africa, and the southern extremity or Capedistrict. The remaining portion has no well-marked divisions,and a large proportion of its animal forms range over it fromNubia and Abyssinia, to Senegal on the one side and to theZambesi on the other ; this forms our first or East-Africansub-region.The second, or West African sub-region extends along thecoast from Senegal to Angola, and inland to the sources of theShary and the Congo.The third, or South African sub-region, comprises the CapeColony and Natal, and is roughly limited by a line from DelagoaBay to Walvish Bay.The fourth, or Malagasy sub-region, consists of Madagascar andthe adjacent islands, from Eodriguez to the Seychelles ;and thisdiffers so remarkably from the continent that it has been proposedto form a distinct primary region for its reception. Itsproductions are indeed highly interesting; since it possesses3 families, and 2 sub-families of mammals peculiar to itself,while almost all its genera are peculiar. Of these a fewshow Oriental or Ethiopian affinities, but the remainder arequite isolated. Turning to other classes of animals, we findthat the birds are almost as remarkable ; but, as might beexpected, a larger number of genera are common to surroundingcountries. More than 30 genera are altogether peculiar,in separate families or sub-families.and some of these are so isolated as to require to be classedThe African affinity is howeverhere more strongly shown by the considerable number (13)of peculiar Ethiopian genera which in Madagascar have representativespecies. There can be no doubt therefore about Madagascarbeing more nearly related to the Ethiopian than to anyother region ; but its peculiarities are so great, that, were it notfor its small size and the limited extent of its fauna, its claim torank as a separate region might not seem unreasonable. It istrue that it is not poorer in mammals than Australia ;but thatcountry is far more isolated, and cannot be so decidedly and
chap, iv.] ZOOLOGICAL REGIONS. 75naturally associated with any other region as Madagascar canbe with the Ethiopian. It is therefore the better and morenatural course to keep it as a sub-region ; the peculiarities itexhibits being of exactly the same kind as those presented bythe Antilles, by New Zealand, and even by Celebes and Ceylon,but in a much greater degree.Oriental Region.—On account of the numerous objectionsthat have been made to naming a regionfrom the least characteristicportion of it, and not thinking " Malayan," proposed byMr. Blanford, a good term, (as it has a very circumscribed anddefinite meaning, and especially because the " Malay " archipelagois half of it in the Australian region,) I propose to usethe word " Oriental " instead of " Indian," as being geographicallyapplicable to the whole of the countries included in the regionand to very few beyond it ; as being euphonious, and as beingfree from all confusion with terms already used in zoologicalgeography. I trust therefore that it may meet with generalacceptance.This small, compact, but rich and varied region, consists ofall India and China from the limits of the Palsearctic region ;all the Malay peninsula and islands as far east as Java andBaly, Borneo and the Philippine Islands ; and Formosa. It ispositively characterized by possessing 12 peculiar families ofvertebrata ; by 55 genera of land mammalia, and 165 generaof land birds, altogether confined to it ; these peculiar generaforming in each case about one half of the total number itpossesses.Sub-divisions of the Oriental region.—First we have theIndian sub-region, consisting of Central India from the foot ofthe Himalayas in the west, and south of the Ganges to theeast, as far as a linedrawn from Goa curving south and up tothe Kistna river; this is the portion which has most affinitywith Africa.The second, or Ceylonese sub-region, consists of thesouthernextremity of India with Ceylon ; this is a mountainous forestregion, and possesses several peculiar forms as well as someMalayan types not found in the firstsub-region.
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chap, iv.] ZOOLOGICAL REGIONS. 75naturally associated <strong>with</strong> any o<strong>the</strong>r region as Madagascar canbe <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian. It is <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> better and morenatural course to keep it as a sub-region ; <strong>the</strong> peculiarities itexhibits being <strong>of</strong> exactly <strong>the</strong> same kind as those presented by<strong>the</strong> Antilles, by New Zealand, and even by Celebes and Ceylon,but in a much greater degree.Oriental Region.—On account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> numerous objectionsthat have been made to naming a regionfrom <strong>the</strong> least characteristicportion <strong>of</strong> it, and not thinking " Malayan," proposed byMr. Blanford, a good term, (as it has a very circumscribed anddefinite meaning, and especially because <strong>the</strong> " Malay " archipelagois half <strong>of</strong> it in <strong>the</strong> Australian region,) I propose to use<strong>the</strong> word " Oriental " instead <strong>of</strong> " Indian," as being <strong>geographical</strong>lyapplicable to <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> countries included in <strong>the</strong> regionand to very few beyond it ; as being euphonious, and as beingfree from all confusion <strong>with</strong> terms already used in zoologicalgeography. I trust <strong>the</strong>refore that it may meet <strong>with</strong> generalacceptance.This small, compact, but rich and varied region, consists <strong>of</strong>all India and China from <strong>the</strong> limits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Palsearctic region ;all <strong>the</strong> Malay peninsula and islands as far east as Java andBaly, Borneo and <strong>the</strong> Philippine Islands ; and Formosa. It ispositively characterized by possessing 12 peculiar families <strong>of</strong>vertebrata ; by 55 genera <strong>of</strong> land mammalia, and 165 genera<strong>of</strong> land birds, altoge<strong>the</strong>r confined to it ; <strong>the</strong>se peculiar generaforming in each case about one half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> total number itpossesses.Sub-divisions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Oriental region.—First we have <strong>the</strong>Indian sub-region, consisting <strong>of</strong> Central India from <strong>the</strong> foot <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Himalayas in <strong>the</strong> west, and south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ganges to <strong>the</strong>east, as far as a linedrawn from Goa curving south and up to<strong>the</strong> Kistna river; this is <strong>the</strong> portion which has most affinity<strong>with</strong> Africa.<strong>The</strong> second, or Ceylonese sub-region, consists <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sou<strong>the</strong>rnextremity <strong>of</strong> India <strong>with</strong> Ceylon ; this is a mountainous forestregion, and possesses several peculiar forms as well as someMalayan types not found in <strong>the</strong> firstsub-region.
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