DISTRIBUTION OF THE FAUNAS. 197 



a close analogy to those of the arctic region. It is another 

 glacial fauna, namely, the antarctic. Having thus sketched 

 the general divisions of the faunas, it remains to point out 

 the principal features of each of them. 



420. I. ARCTIC FAUNA. The predominant feature of the 

 Arctic Fauna is its uniformity. The species are few in num- 

 ber ; but, on the other hand, the number of individuals is 

 immense. We need only refer to the clouds of birds which 

 hover upon the islands and shores of the North ; the shoals 

 of fishes, the salmon among others, which throng the coasts 

 of Greenland, Iceland, and Hudson's Bay. There is great 

 uniformity, also, in the form and color of these animals. Not 

 a single bird of brilliant plumage is found, and few fishes 

 with varied hues. Their forms are regular, and their tints 

 as dusky as the northern heavens. The most conspicuous 

 animals are the white-bear, the moose, the reindeer, the 

 musk-ox, the white-fox, the polar-hare, the lemming, and 

 various Seals ; but the most important are the Whales, which, 

 it is to be remarked, rank lowest of all the Mammals. 

 Among the Birds may be enumerated some sea-eagles and 

 a few Waders, while the great majority are aquatic species, 

 such as gulls, cormorants, divers, petrels, ducks, geese, gan- 

 nets, &c., all belonging to the lowest orders of Birds. Rep- 

 tiles are altogether wanting. The Articulata are represented 

 by numerous marine worms, and by minute crustaceans of 

 the orders Isopoda and Amphipoda. Insects are rare, and 

 of inferior types. Of the type of Mollusks, there are 

 Acephala, particularly Tunicata, fewer Gasteropods, and 

 very few Cephalopods. Among the Radiata are a great 

 number of jelly-fishes, particularly the Beroe ; and to con- 

 clude with the Echinoderms, there are several star-fishes 

 and Echini, but few Holothuria?. The class of Polypi is 

 very scantily represented, and those producing stony corals 

 are entirely wanting. 



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