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

———416 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi.— Morelia, Liasis, Diemenia, and Acanthophis ; while four othersare more especially Papuan, Dibamus (Typhlopidse), Brachyorros—asub-genus of the wide-spread Rhabdosoma (Calamariidae),found also in Timor ; Nardoa and Enygrus (Pythonidse), rangingfrom the Moluccas to the Fiji Islands. The rest are either commonto the Oriental and Australian regions or of wide range.Of Lizards also, 24 genera are recorded, belonging to 5 families.Three only are peculiarly Oriental,Eumeces, Tiaris, and Nycteridium; but another, Oonyocephalus, is Malayan, ranging fromJava and Borneo to the Pelew Islands. Three are Australian,Gyclodus, Heteropus, and Gehyra ; while six are especially Papuan,— Kcneuxia (extending to the Philippines), Mania, Garlia (toNorth Australia), Lipinia (to the Philippine Islands), and Tribolonotus,—all belonging to the Scincidae ;and Arua belongingto the Agamidee. We must add Cryptobhpliarus, which is confinedto the Australian region, except a species in Mauritius.The other genera have a wider distribution.The preponderant Oriental element in the snakes as comparedwith the lizards, issuggestive of the dispersal of the former beingdependent on floating trees, or even on native canoes, which foran unknown period have traversed these seas, and in whichvarious species of snakes often secrete themselves. Tins seemsthe more probable, as snakes are usually more restricted in theirrange than lizards, and exhibit less numerous examples of widespreadgenera and species. The other orders of reptiles presentno features of interest.Of Amphibia only 8 genera are known, belonging to 6 families.Eana, Hylarana, and Hyla are wide-spread genera, the formerbeing, however, absent from Australia. Hyperolius, Pclodryas,Litoria, and Aderophrys are Australian; while Platymantis isPolynesian, with a species in the Philippine Islands. Henceit appears that the amphibia, so far as yet known, exhibitno Oriental affinity; and this is a very suggestive fact. Wehave seen (p. 29) that salt water is almost a complete barrierto the dispersal of these creatures ; so that the wholly Australiancharacter of the Papuan batrachia is what we mightexpect, if, as here advocated, no actualland connection between