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

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chap, xiii.] THE AUSTKALIAN REGION. 403that undoubtedly occur, are probably due to three distinctcauses.First, we have <strong>the</strong> American Didelphyida?, among Mammals,and <strong>the</strong> Cracidse, among birds, allied respectively to <strong>the</strong> Marsupialsand <strong>the</strong> Megapodiidsp, <strong>of</strong> Australia. This is probably morea coincidence than an affinity,due to <strong>the</strong> preservation <strong>of</strong> ancientwide-spread types in two remote areas, each cut <strong>of</strong>f from <strong>the</strong>great nor<strong>the</strong>rn continental masses, inwhich higher forms wereevolved leading to <strong>the</strong> extinction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lower types. In each<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se sou<strong>the</strong>rn isolated lands <strong>the</strong> original type would undergoa special development ; in <strong>the</strong> one case suited to an arborealexistence, in <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r to a life among arid plains.<strong>The</strong> second case is that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tree-frogs, and <strong>the</strong> genus Osteorjlossumamong fishes ; and is most likely due to <strong>the</strong> extensionand approximation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two sou<strong>the</strong>rn continents, and <strong>the</strong> existence<strong>of</strong> some intermediate lands, during a warm period whenfacilities would be afforded for <strong>the</strong> transmission <strong>of</strong> a few organismsby <strong>the</strong> causes which have led to <strong>the</strong> exceptional diffusion<strong>of</strong> fresh-water productions in all parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. As howeverOsteoglossum occurs also in <strong>the</strong> Sunda Islands, this may be a case<strong>of</strong> survival <strong>of</strong> a once wide-spread group.<strong>The</strong> third case is that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same genera and even species <strong>of</strong>fish, and perhaps <strong>of</strong> frogs, in <strong>the</strong> two countries ; which maybe due to transmission from island to island by <strong>the</strong> aid <strong>of</strong> floatingice, <strong>with</strong> or <strong>with</strong>out <strong>the</strong> assistance <strong>of</strong> more interveninglands than now exist.Having arrived at <strong>the</strong>se conclusions from a consideration <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> vertebrata, we shall be in a position to examine how far<strong>the</strong> same causes will explain, or agree <strong>with</strong>, <strong>the</strong> <strong>distribution</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>invertebrate groups, or elucidate any special difficulties we maymeet <strong>with</strong> in <strong>the</strong> <strong>relations</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sub-regions.Insects.<strong>The</strong> insects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian region are as varied, and insome respects as peculiar as its higher forms <strong>of</strong> life. As wehave already indicated in our sketch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Oriental region, avast number <strong>of</strong> forms inhabit <strong>the</strong> Austro-Malay sub-region

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