ANTARCTIC PROBLEMS 
421 
of South America (Archiplata) extended southward in form 
of a South Pacific antarctic continent, which kept this area 
in communication with the Pacific continent during the whole 
of Mesozoic times (Pig. 17). From the latter', became separated 
first a number of Polynesian islands, then New Zealand and 
finally Australia and New Guinea. Dr. von Ihering deals with 
the same problem in several of his papers, some of which have 
now been reprinted in his recent work entitled “ Archhelenis 
and Archinotis.” * * * § After giving a brief review of the main 
features pointing in favour of a former antarctic continent 
connecting the Australian region with South America, Pro¬ 
fessor Jacobi f expresses himself in favour of the theory. A 
great deal of additional evidence in support of the same view 
was collected by Dr. H. 0. Forbes.$ He cites many examples 
among birds, the southern pikes (Galaxiidae), which occur in 
Chile, Patagonia, the Falkland islands and New Zealand, the 
family Cystognathidae among amphibians, and numerous 
plants, as illustrating the intimate affinity existing between 
the faunas of the Australian and South American regions. 
He also traces a faunistic relationship between these regions 
and the Madagascar area, and concludes that all these 
southern land-masses were once joined to an antarctic con¬ 
tinent. It is easy enough to vaguely describe such a land 
connection. Dr. Forbes was not satisfied to do this. He 
was the first to give a map clearly indicating how he 
conceived that all the areas referred to were united with one 
another. 
Mr. Beddard § briefly discussed the problem in 1895. 
While criticising Dr. Forbes’ evidence in so far as it relates 
to the struthious birds and penguins, he admits that there 
are very strong arguments in favour of a former land connec¬ 
tion between Patagonia and the Australian region, particu¬ 
larly when we take into consideration the distribution of 
earthworms. 
As Mr. Hedley aptly remarks, “we may compare the 
shattered biological monuments of Tasmania and South 
* Ihering, H. von, “ Archhelenis and Archinotis.” 
t Jacobi, A., “ Biogeographische Gebiete,” pp. 204—20T. 
t Forbes, H. 0., “The Chatham Islands.” 
§ Beddard, F. E., “Zoogeography,” pp. 161—172. 
