INTR OD UCTION. \ i 



South America was isolated from the North. At any rate it 

 cannot be considered as an Antarctic form, and I am inclined to 

 place it in the Neo-tropical element. 



NEW ZEALAND NOT AN OCEANIC ISLAND. 



An examination of the pages of this Index will show that the 

 New Zealand fauna is not altogether an insular one that is, one 

 that has crossed over an oceanic barrier but is largely derived 

 through a former connection with the mainland. 



(1) In the first place we have a number of animals which it- 

 is impossible to believe crossed over the sea : 



The Tuatara and lizards, as well as the frog ; 



Our large land mollusca and slugs ; 



The fresh-water shells, and especially Unio ; 



The fresh-water cray-fish ; 



Many insects, such as the large Curculionida ; the wingless 

 grasshoppers ; Stenofelmatidce, and Phasmidce ; 



Many of the Neuroptera, which pass most of their lives in 

 fresh water ; 



The earth-worms and land planarians. 



Perhaps the Kiwi and Moas should be mentioned, but it is pos- 

 sible that their ancestors may have flown across a moderately 

 broad strait. 



(2) In the second place, the relations of the fauna are not 

 what we should expect if they had been over-sea wanderers ; for 

 the Tasmanian and Australian element is weak in comparison 

 with the Malayan element. 



(3) Thirdly, the low type of a great part of the fauna, which, 

 however, shows a great variety of forms, especially in the insects. 

 The fauna is essentially an old one, and many of the higher types 

 are absent. 



(4) Fourthly, the occurrence of migratory birds which could 

 never have found their way here if they had not originally followed 

 a land connection. 



(5) Fifthly, the number of gymnosperms and orchids in the 

 flora plants which are not found on oceanic islands confirms 

 the conclusion arrived at from the animals. 



To explain the connection between New Zealand and some 

 ancient land it is necessary to assume the existence of a former 

 continent, either in the Antarctic regions or in the Pacific, of 

 which Patagonia, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand formed 



