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 ...
—198 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi.insularity, have sufficed to commence the work of specificmodification.There are also a few small land-shells and severalinsects not yet found elsewhere than in Britain ;of the smaller Mammalia—a shrew (Sorcx rusticus).and even oneThese factsare all readily explained by the former union of these islandswith the Continent, and the alternate depressions and elevationswhich are proved by geological evidence to have occurred, bywhich they have been more than once separated and unitedagain in recent times. For the evidence of this elevation anddepression, the reader may consult Sir Charles Lyell's Antiquityof Man.Iceland is the only other island of importance belonging tothis sub-region, and it contrasts strongly with Great Britain,both in its Arctic climate and oceanic position. It is situatedjust south of the Arctic circle and considerably nearer Greenlandthan Europe, yet its productions are almost wholly European.The only indigenous land mammalia are the Arctic fox (Canislagopus), and the polar bear as an occasional visitant, with amouse {Mus islandicus), said to be of a peculiar species. Fourspecies of seals visit its shores. The birds are more interesting.According to Professor Newton, ninety-five species have beenobserved ; but many of these are mere stragglers. There aretwenty-three land, and seventy-two aquatic birds and waders.Four or five are peculiar species, though very closely related toothers inhabiting Scandinavia or Greenland. Only two orthree species are more nearly related to Greenland birds than tothose of Northern Europe, so that the Palrearctic character ofthe fauna is unmistakable. The following lists, compiled froma paper by Professor Newton, may be interesting as showingmore exactly the character of Icelandic ornithology.1. Peculiar species. — Troglodytes borealis (closely alliedto the common wren, found also in the Faroe Islands) ; Falcoislandicus (closely allied to F. gyrfalco) ;Lagopus islandorum(closely allied to L. rupestris of Greenland).2. European species resident in Iceland.Emberiza nivalis,Corvus corax, Haliazctus albicilla, Rallus aquaticus, Hamiatopusostralegus, Cygnus fcrus, Mcrgus (two species), Phalacocorax (two
———chap, x.] THE PAL^ARCTIC REGION. 199species), Sula bassana, Lams (two species), Stercorarius catarractes,Pujrfinus anglorum, Mergulus alle, Una (three species),Alca torda.3. American species resident in Iceland. Clangula islandica,Histrionicus torquatus.4. Annual visitants from Europe.titliys,Turdus iliacus, ButicillaSaxicola mnanthe, Motacilla alba, Anthus pratensis, Linotalinaria, Chelidon urbica, Hirundo rustica, Falco msalon, Surnianyctea, Otus brachyotus, Charadrius pluvialis, AZgialites hiaticida,Strepsilas interpres, Phalaropus fulicarius, Totanus calidris,Limosa (species), Tringa (three species), Calidris arenaria,Gallinago media, Numenius plimopus, Ardea cinerea, Anser (twospecies), Bernicla (two species), Anas (four species), Fuligulamarila, Harelda glacialis, Somateria mollissima, (Edemia nigra,Sterna macrura, Bissa tridactyla, Larus luecopterus, Stercorarius(two species), Fratercula artica, Colymbus (two species), Podicepscornutus.5. Annual visitant from Greenland. Falco candicans.6.—Former resident, now extinct. Alca impennis (thegreat auk).II.— Mediterranean Sub-region.This is by far the richest' portion of the Paloearctic region,for although of moderate extent much of it enjoys a climate inwhich the rigours of winter are almost unknown. It includesall the countries south of the Pyrenees, Alps, Balkans, andCaucasus mountains ;all the southern shores of the Mediterraneanto the Atlas range, and even beyond it to include theextra-tropical portion of the Sahara ; and in the Nile valleyas far as the second cataract. Further east it includes thenorthern half of Arabia and the whole of Persia, as well asBeluchistan, and perhaps Afghanistan up to the banks of theIndus. This extensive district is almost wholly a region ofmountains and elevated plateaus. On the west, Spain ismainly a table-land of more than 2000 feet elevation, deeplypenetrated by extensive valleys and rising into lofty mountainchains. Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, are all very
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———chap, x.] THE PAL^ARCTIC REGION. 199species), Sula bassana, Lams (two species), Stercorarius catarractes,Pujrfinus anglorum, Mergulus alle, Una (three species),Alca torda.3. American species resident in Iceland. Clangula islandica,Histrionicus torquatus.4. Annual visitants from Europe.titliys,Turdus iliacus, ButicillaSaxicola mnan<strong>the</strong>, Motacilla alba, Anthus pratensis, Linotalinaria, Chelidon urbica, Hirundo rustica, Falco msalon, Surnianyctea, Otus brachyotus, Charadrius pluvialis, AZgialites hiaticida,Strepsilas interpres, Phalaropus fulicarius, Totanus calidris,Limosa (species), Tringa (three species), Calidris arenaria,Gallinago media, Numenius plimopus, Ardea cinerea, Anser (twospecies), Bernicla (two species), Anas (four species), Fuligulamarila, Harelda glacialis, Somateria mollissima, (Edemia nigra,Sterna macrura, Bissa tridactyla, Larus luecopterus, Stercorarius(two species), Fratercula artica, Colymbus (two species), Podicepscornutus.5. Annual visitant from Greenland. Falco candicans.6.—Former resident, now extinct. Alca impennis (<strong>the</strong>great auk).II.— Mediterranean Sub-region.This is by far <strong>the</strong> richest' portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Paloearctic region,for although <strong>of</strong> moderate extent much <strong>of</strong> it enjoys a climate inwhich <strong>the</strong> rigours <strong>of</strong> winter are almost unknown. It includesall <strong>the</strong> countries south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pyrenees, Alps, Balkans, andCaucasus mountains ;all <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn shores <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mediterraneanto <strong>the</strong> Atlas range, and even beyond it to include <strong>the</strong>extra-tropical portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sahara ; and in <strong>the</strong> Nile valleyas far as <strong>the</strong> second cataract. Fur<strong>the</strong>r east it includes <strong>the</strong>nor<strong>the</strong>rn half <strong>of</strong> Arabia and <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> Persia, as well asBeluchistan, and perhaps Afghanistan up to <strong>the</strong> banks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Indus. This extensive district is almost wholly a region <strong>of</strong>mountains and elevated plateaus. On <strong>the</strong> west, Spain ismainly a table-land <strong>of</strong> more than 2000 feet elevation, deeplypenetrated by extensive valleys and rising into l<strong>of</strong>ty mountainchains. Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, are all very
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