GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. 53! 



The tropical and sub-tropical regions of the earth are 

 the home of the Monkeys ; of the noble carnivorous ani- 

 mals, like the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, and the like ; of the 

 gigantic Pachyderms, such as the Elephant and Rhinoce- 

 ros ; of numerous Ruminants ; of Sloths, Ant-Eaters, and 

 Armadillos ; of Birds with gorgeous plumage ; of gigantic 

 and powerful Reptiles ; and of Insects of the most varied 

 forms and most splendid hues. But the ninety American 

 species of Monkeys are all different from a nearly equal 

 number found in the Eastern hemisphere. The latter 

 have the nostrils near together, only thirty-two teeth, 

 cheek-pouches, and the tail non-prehensile ; while the 

 American Monkeys have the nostrils widely separated, 

 thirty-six teeth, no cheek-pouches, and in many cases a 

 prehensile tail. The Lion, Tiger, and Leopard, the Ele- 

 phant and Rhinoceros, are confined to Africa and Asia, 

 and their only representatives in America are the Puma, 

 Jaguar, and Tapir. The Camel belongs to Africa and 

 countries adjacent, although it is true it has an analogue 

 in the Llama of South America. The Sloths of South 

 America, and the Armadillos of North and South Amer- 

 ica, have not even analogues in any other quarter of the 

 globe. Four hundred species of Humming-birds, many 

 of which vie with the rainbow in the colors of their plu- 

 mage, belong mainly to Tropical America, but not one 

 was ever found in all the vast realms of the Eastern Con- 

 tinent. 



If \ve compare the animals of South America, of Africa, 

 and of Australia, we find in most cases not even family 

 resemblances. Australia, though lying with a large part 

 of its northern half within the tropics, has no Monkeys, 

 no Pachyderms, no Edentates, and no Ruminants. The 

 numerous mammals of this island are all Marsupials ; 

 and it is a remarkable fact, that, outside of Australia 

 and vicinity, no marsupials exist on the globe, except 



