CH. Ill] THE LYNX AND THE BEAR IN EUROPE. 155 



tints nearly the whole of the Palsearctic region with the 

 colour which he uses to express the range of this Carnivora. 

 He also indicates the tract of country from which this 

 bear has died out within the historic period. At the 

 present time there are several isolated patches to the 

 west and south of the country continuously occupied by 

 the animal, where it is still to be met with ; such as the 

 Pyrenees and a portion of Switzerland. These isolated 

 patches are in most cases connected with the main area 

 by regions from which the animal has recently retired. 

 Another map illustrates precisely the same kind of distri- 

 bution exhibited by the lynx. This animal has a range 

 almost co-extensive with Ursus arctos, but it does not 

 get into Japan, which the bear does. It persists as two 

 outliers in Western Europe almost exactly corresponding 

 to those of the bear. But a tract on the east coast of 

 Italy no longer inhabited by the lynx is still the home of 

 the bear. Cultivation and civilisation are no doubt the 

 cause of these gaps ; but it is curious that they should 

 have been more effective in the case of the smaller lynx 

 than the larger bear. 



The existing Distribution of land and sea considered 

 in relation to Zoological Geography. 



In considering the phenomena of distribution at the 

 present day, it is important to bear in mind that the 

 existing distribution of land and sea has on the whole 

 remained the same for very long periods, according to 

 some for as long a time as we have any cognizance of. 



