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

—CHAr. iv.] • ZOOLOGICAL REGIONS. 59one, should very nearly represent the distribution of the other.Mr. Sclater's regions are as follows :1. The Palsearctic Region ; including Europe, Temperate Asia,and N. Africa to the Atlas mountains.2. The Ethiopian Region ;Africa south of the Atlas, Madagascar,and the Mascarene Islands, with Southern Arabia.3. The Indian Region ; including India south of the Himalayas,to South China, and to Borneo and Java.4. The Australian Region ; including Celebes and Lombock,eastward to Australia and the Pacific Islands.5. The Nearctic Region; including Greenland, and N.America, to Northern Mexico.6. The Neotropical Region ; including South America, theAntilles, and Southern Mexico.This division of the earth received great support from Dr.Giinther, who, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for1858, showed that the geographical distribution of Reptilesagreed with it very closely, the principal difference being thatthe reptiles of Japan have a more Indian character than thebirds, this being especially the case with the snakes. In thevolume for 1868 of the same work, Professor Huxley discussesat considerable length the primary and secondary zoologicaldivisions of the earth. He gives reasons for thinking that themost radical primary division, both as regards birds and mammals,is into a Northern and Southern hemisphere (Arctogreaand Notogaea), the former, however, embracing all Africa, whilethe latter includes only Australasia and the Neotropical orAustro-Columbian region. Mr. Sclater had grouped his regionsprimarily into Palasogaea and Neogaea, the Old and NewWorlds of geographers ; a division which strikingly accordswith the distribution of the passerine birds, but not so wellwith that of mammalia or reptiles. Professor Huxley pointsout that the Nearctic, Palsearctic, Indian, and Ethiopianregions of Mr. Sclater have a much greater resemblance toeach other than any one of them has to Australia or to SouthAmerica ;and he further suggests that New Zealand alone haspeculiarities which might entitle it to rank as a primary region