vi] DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED GROUPS 87 



During the Jurassic, Cretaceous and early Ter- 

 tiary Madagascar, together with India, formed a long 

 island, or complex of islands (practically the much 

 debated ' Lemuria ' of Sclater and Haeckel). Mada- 

 gascar was separated from Africa since the Lias, 

 with a rather problematic restoration of an Oligocene 

 bridge. The connexion with India lasted well into 

 the Oligocene. 



Sumatra, Java and Borneo were Asiatic continental 

 until the Pleistocene ; Celebes and the Philippines 

 until the Pliocene ; whilst New Guinea and Tasmania 

 were Australian. New Zealand, as a whole, seems 

 to be the earliest island-complex of importance. Its 

 final separation, however, need not date back further 

 than into mid-Cretaceous times. 



CHAPTER VI 



DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED GROUPS 

 EARTHWORMS. 



THE terrestrial earthworms have the reputation 

 of great zoo-geographical importance, and in the 

 hands of an expert, unbiassed in the interpretation of 

 the actual facts, they may some day yield valuable 

 results which are in harmony with those indicated 



