XXX. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF 



MAMMALS 



How the Mammalia became distributed over the world, 

 and what were the causes of the migrations, constitute an 

 interesting phase in the study of this group. Many works 

 have been prepared in an effort to describe the original 

 "Eden," where mammals first appeared; but the student 

 may spare himself much waste of time in not following up 

 these theories, as nothing is known to-day, or doubtless ever 

 will be, as to the exact region in which the milk givers first 

 made a stand, as it may have been simultaneous in a sense 

 in many different localities. 



An instance may be given suggesting the methods 

 by which the migrations of early man are traced. The 

 American Indians, or some of them, bear a strong re- 

 semblance, superficially or otherwise, to the North China 

 people, Mongolians. The Eskimos often show a star- 

 tling resemblance to Japanese, hence it may be inferred 

 that the Indians of our country are the descendants of 

 Asiatic tribes which have wandered east in the remote past. 

 How can this be proved ? As I have already mentioned, 

 at the mission of San Juan Capistrano, Southern California, 

 the Indians one hundred years ago entertained a singular 

 superstition that an eclipse was the attempt of a big dragon 

 to devour the moon, so, to frighten it off, they beat dried 

 hides with sticks, threw stones at it, and created noises of 

 various kinds. Now if a belief of this kind should be 



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