CONTENTS 
xii 
PAGE 
fresh-water crabs and their dispersal—The European element in 
the fauna of Central America—On discontinuous distribution 
of animals as a proof of their antiquity .... 233-260 
CHAPTER XI 
THE WEST INDIAN ISLANDS AND THEIR INHABITANTS 
The geology of the Antilles—Palaeography as illustrated by the dis¬ 
tribution of snails—Antiquity and dispersal of snails, their 
relationship and European affinities—-On the theory of the 
ancient Atlantis—The problem of the supposed permanence of 
ocean basins—The marine mammals of the Antilles and their 
origin—Evidences in favour of a mid-Atlantic land bridge— 
The terrestrial mammals of the West Indian islands—Evidences 
of former changes of level in the Antillean area—The blind 
animals of Cuba—On the ancient Antillean continent . 261-294 
CHAPTER XII 
THE FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 
Darwin’s visit to the islands and his views on the origin of their 
animals and plants—On accidental dispersal — -The birds, 
tortoises and snails of the Galapagos islands—Origin of the 
flora—Baur’s criticisms of Darwin’s views—Euphorbia and 
its past history — Conclusions as to the origin of the Galapagos 
fauna—The geological history of the Pacific Ocean—On the 
supposed former Pacific continent—Mr. Guppy’s researches —- 
Coral reefs and their history—A circum-Pacific land belt — 
Evidences of ancient lands westward of Central America—On 
faunistic affinities between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — 
The Humboldt current ....... 295-335 
CHAPTER XIII 
THE ANIMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN STATES OF SOUTH AMERICA 
The geological history of South America—The faunal elements of 
the continent—Palaeontology—Course of development of the 
continent during the Tertiary Era — Peripatus and its distribu¬ 
tion in South America — On the origin of Clausilia and its 
relations—The South American bear—On the tapirs and their 
origin—The dwarf deer of South America—On the supposed 
existence of former land connections — Derivation and history 
of the fossil elephants — The river Amazon . . . 336-362 
