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

——chap, xi.] THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 267that of Africa south of the equator. The extreme peculiarityaud isolation of the flora must not, however, be lost sight of, ifwe would correctly interpret the phenomena afforded by the distributionof animal life on the African continent.Mammalia.—A much larger number of peculiar forms of mammalsare found here than in any of the other sub-regions,although it is far less in extent than either of the three divisionsof the continent. Among Insectivora we have theChrysochloridae, or golden moles, consisting of two genera confinedto South Africa ; while the Macroscelididae, or elephant shrews,are also characteristically South African, although ranging as far asMozambique and the Zambezi, with one outlying species in NorthAfrica. The Viverridse are represented by three peculiar genera,Ariela, Cynictis, and Suricata. The Carnivora present someremarkable forms : Proteles, forming a distinct family allied tothe hyaenas and weasels ; and two curious forms of CanidasMegalotis (the long-eared fox) and Lycaon (the hyaena-dog), thelatter found also in parts of East Africa. Hydrogale is apeculiar form of Mustelidae ;Pelea one of the antelopes ; Dendromys,Malacothrix, and Mystromys are peculiar genera of themouse family (Muridae) ; Bathyerges one of the mole-rats (Spalacidae); Pedetes, the Cape-hare, a remarkable form of jerboa ; andPetromys, one of the spiny-rats (Echimyidae). The remarkableOryderopus, or earth-pig, has one species in South and one inNorth East Africa. We have thus eighteen genera of mammaliaalmost or quite peculiar to South Africa.Birds.—These do not present so many peculiar forms, yetsome are very remarkable. Chcctops is an isolated genus ofthrushes (Turdidre). Lioptilus, one of the fruit-thrushes (Pycnonotidae).Pogonocichla, one of the fly-catchers; Urolestes, ashrike ; Promcrops, a sun-bird ; Philetwrns and Chera, weaverbirds;and three peculiar genera of larks Spizocorys, Heterocorys,and Tephrocorys, complete the list of peculiar types of Passeres.A wood-pecker, Geocolaptes, is nearly allied to a South Americangenus. The Cape-dove, (Ena, is confined to South and East Africaand Madagascar ; and Thalassornis is a peculiar form of duck.Several genera are also confined to West and South Africa ;