104 SCINCUS ERYTHROCEPHALUS. 



their abode the roots or trunks of fallen and decaying trees, and are frequently 

 found in open ground and about fences. 



Nor can I believe with Temminck and Schlegel, that our Scincus quinquelineatus 

 is identical with a Japanese animal, though there may be great resemblance 

 between them. Similar animals are frequently found within similar parallels of 

 latitude, or, it might rather be said, where the temperature is nearly the same. 

 Thus, in France and Germany are found the common toad, Bufo vulgaris, the 

 Rana csculenta, the Rana temporaria, all of which are beautifully represented in the 

 northern parts of the United States by the Bufo americanus, the Rana halecina, 

 and the Rana sylvatica; while in South Carolina many of the animals of Egypt 

 (nearly in the same parallel) are represented by many closely allied species — the 

 crocodile by the alligator, the Trionyx aegyptiacus by the Trionyx ferox, &c. &c. 

 Yet none of these animals are identical. 



Too much attention cannot be paid to the geographical distribution of animals, 

 as no species can be considered as thoroughly known until we are acquainted 

 with all its localities, as well as its habits. 



It is from inattention to the geographical distribution of animals that some of 

 the best zoologists of our day have been led into error, and described animals as 

 existing in countries where they are never seen. Thus Dumeril and Bibron, 

 having received specimens of the Anolius carolinensis from Milbert, then a resident 

 at New York, and also from Georgia, say they have reason to believe it is found 

 in a great part of the United States — and so it would be did it exist in the inter- 

 mediate countries between New York and Savannah; but in truth its limits are 

 among the most circumscribed of all our animals; it is not found farther north 

 than lat. 34°, and consequently not within six hundred miles of New York; 

 and its southern limit being the Gulf of Mexico, it follows then that four-fifths 

 of the United States is not inhabited by this animal. Milbert received his 

 specimens from the south, and afterwards sent them to Paris. Again: they say 

 they have received a Cyclurus from the same source, and suppose it to be common 

 in our country, where, perhaps, never were seen half a dozen living animals of 

 that species, and they were all brought from Cuba, and other West India islands, 

 which is its native country. 



