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

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.322 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi.plains or arid deserts. It happens that <strong>the</strong> three great OldWorld regions are separated from each o<strong>the</strong>r by a debatable landwhich is chiefly <strong>of</strong> a desert character ; hence we must expect t<strong>of</strong>ind a resemblance between <strong>the</strong> inhabitants <strong>of</strong> such districts ineach region. We also find a great resemblance between <strong>the</strong> aquaticbirds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three regions ; and as we generally give little weightto <strong>the</strong>se in our estimate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> degree <strong>of</strong> affinity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> faunas <strong>of</strong>different countries, so we should not count <strong>the</strong> desert fauna as <strong>of</strong>equal weight <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> more restricted and peculiar types whichare found in <strong>the</strong> fertile tracts,—in <strong>the</strong> mountains and valleys, andespecially in <strong>the</strong> primeval forests. <strong>The</strong> supposed preponderance<strong>of</strong> exclusively Ethiopian groups <strong>of</strong> Mammalia and Birds in thissub-region, deserves however a close examination, in order toascertain how far <strong>the</strong> facts really warrant such an opinion.Mammalia.—<strong>The</strong> following list<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more important genera<strong>of</strong> Mammalia which range over <strong>the</strong> larger part <strong>of</strong> this sub-regionwill enable naturalists to form an independent judgment as to<strong>the</strong> preponderance <strong>of</strong> Ethiopian, or <strong>of</strong> Oriental and Palsearctictypes, in this, <strong>the</strong> most important <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> classes <strong>of</strong> <strong>animals</strong>for <strong>geographical</strong> <strong>distribution</strong>.Range <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Genera <strong>of</strong> Mammalia which Inhabit <strong>the</strong> Sub-regionOF HlNDOSTAN.1. Presbytes ... Oriental only.2. Macacus ... Oriental only.3. Erinaceus ... Palsearctic genus.4. Sorex Widely distributed.5. Felis ... ... Almost Cosmopolitan.6. Cynselurus ... Ethiopian and S. Palsearctic.7. Viverra . . Ethiopian and Oriental to China and Malaya.8. Viverricula ... Oriental only.9. Paradoxurus ... Oriental only.10. Herpestes ... Ethiopian, S. Palsearctic, and Oriental to Malaya.11. Calogale ... Ethiopian, Oriental to Cambodja.12. Tseniogale ... Oriental.13. Hysena ... Palsearctic and Ethiopian (a Palsearctic species.)14. Canis ... ... Palsearctic and Oriental to Malaya.15. Cuon Oriental to Malaya.16. Vulpes ... Very wide range.17. Lutra ... ... Oriental and Palsearctic.18. Mellivora ... Ethiopian.19. Melursus ... Oriental only ; family not Ethiopian.20. Sus ... ... Palsearctic and Oriental, not Ethiopian.21. Tragulus ... Oriental.

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