ANTAKCTIC PROBLEMS 421 



of South America (Archiplata) extended southward in form 

 of a South Pacific antarctic continent, which kept this area 

 in communication with the Pacific continent during the whole 

 of Mesozoic times (Fig. 17). From the latter 1 , became separated 

 first a number of Polynesian islands, then New Zealand and 

 finally Australia and New Guinea. Dr. von Ihering deals with 

 the same problem in several of his papers, some of which have 

 now been reprinted in his recent work entitled " Archhelenis 

 and Archinotis." * After giving a brief review of the main 

 features pointing in favour of a former antarctic continent 

 connecting the Australian region with South America, Pro- 

 fessor Jacobi f expresses himself in favour of the theory. A 

 great deal of additional evidence in support of the same view 

 was collected by Dr. H. O. Forbes. $ He cites many examples 

 among birds, the southern pikes (Galaxiidae), which occur in 

 Chile, Patagonia, the Falkland islands and New Zealand, the 

 family Cystognathidae among amphibians, and numerous 

 plants, as illustrating the intimate affinity existing between 

 the faunas of the Australian and South American regions. 

 He also traces a faunistic relationship between these regions 

 and the Madagascar area, and concludes that all these 

 southern land-masses were once joined to an antarctic con- 

 tinent. It is easy enough to vaguely describe such a land 

 connection. Dr. Forbes was not satisfied to do this. He 

 was the first to give a map clearly indicating how he 

 conceived that all the areas referred to were united with one 

 another. 



Mr. Beddard briefly discussed the problem in 1895. 

 While criticising Dr. Forbes' evidence in so far as it relates 

 to the struthious birds and penguins, he admits that there 

 are very strong arguments in favour of a former land connec- 

 tion between Patagonia and the Australian region, particu- 

 larly when we take into consideration the distribution of 

 earthworms. 



As Mr. Hedley aptly remarks, "we may compare the 

 shattered biological monuments of Tasmania and South 



* Ihering, H. von, " Archhelenis and Archinotis." 



t Jacobi, A., " Biogeographische Gebiete," pp. 204 207. 



t Forbes, H. O., "The Chatham Islands." 



Beddard, F. E., "Zoogeography," pp. 161172. 



