The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...

;chap, x.] THE PALiEARCTIC REGION. 227procyonoides), an animal confined to North China, Japan, andtheAmoor Valley, and having no close allies in any other partof the globe.In the distance are some deer, a group of animalsvery abundant and varied in this part of the Palaearctic region.Reptiles and Amphibia.—Reptiles are scarce in North China,only four or five species of snakes, a lizard and one of the Geckotidaeoccurring in the country round Pekin. The genus Halysis the most characteristic form of snake, while Callophis, anoriental genus, extends to Japan. Among lizards, Plestiodon,Maybouya, Tachydromus, and Gecko reach Japan, the two latterbeing very characteristic of the Oriental region.Amphibia are more abundant and interesting ; Hynobius,Onychodactylus, and Sieboldtia (Salamandridae) being peculiarto it,while most of the European genera are also represented.Fresh-water Fish.—Of these there are a few peculiar genera;as Plecoglossvs (Salmonidae) from Japan; Achilognathus, Pseudoperilampus,Ochetobius, and Opsariichthys (Cyprinidae) ; andthere are many other Chinese Cyprinidae belonging to the borderland of the Palaearctic and Oriental regions.Insects—The butterflies of this sub-region exhibit the samemixture of tropical and temperate forms as the birds. Most ofthe common European genera are represented, and there arespecies of Parnassius in Japan and the Amoor. Isodema, apeculiar genus of Nymphalidae isfound near Ningpo, just withinour limits ; and Sericinus, one of the most beautiful genera ofPapilionidae is peculiar to North China, where four species occur,thus balancing the Thais and Doritis of Europe. The genusZephyrus (Lycaenidae) is well represented by six species in Japanand the Amoor, against two in Europe. Papilio parts andP. Manor, magnificent insects of wholly tropical appearance,abound near Pekin, and allied forms inhabit Japan and theAmoor, as well as P. demetrius and P. alcinous belonging tothe " Protenor " group of the Himalayas.Other tropical generaoccurring in Japan, the Amoor, or North China are, Debis,Neope, Mycalesis, Ypthimia (Satyridae) ;Thaumantis (Morphidae),at Shanghae ;Euripus, Neptis, Athyma (Nymphalidae)Terias (Pieridae) ;and the above-mentioned Papilionidae.