SPAIN AND NORTHERN AFRICA 



291 



(2) The Mediterranean Sub-region is divided into four 

 provinces : («) The Mediterranean province proper ; (6) the 

 Pontic ; ((^) the Caucasian ; and (cZ) the Atlantidean province. 



(^) The Mediterranean province proper is best considered 

 by further subdividing it, with Fischer and others, into separate 

 districts, each of which has certain peculiar characteristics. 



(i) The Hispano- Algerian district includes the greater part 

 of the Iberian peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and northern 

 Africa from Morocco to Tunis. The extreme western parts of 

 these districts, including West Morocco, Portugal, Asturias, and 

 south-west France, under the influence of the moist climate 

 caused by the Atlantic, show some peculiar features which, in 

 the view of some, are sufficient to justify their separation from 

 the rest of the Hispano-Algerian portion. Among these is a 

 marked development of tlie slugs, TestaceUa, Arion^ and Greoma- 

 lacus, the latter of which occurs even in south-western Ireland. 



Spain. — The principal features are the development of the 

 Macularia^ Iherus^ and Gronostoma groups of Helix^ and the 



Fig. 194. — A, Parma- 

 cell a Valenc ie nsii 

 \V. and B. x §. 

 (After Mo qui n- 

 Tandon.) A', shell 

 of the same, natu- 

 ral size. 



occurrence of the remarkable slug Parmacella^ which is found 

 in mau}^ other parts of the sub-region, and extends eastward as 

 far as Afghanistan. Clausilia has but few species, mostly in the 

 north. There are four species of land operculates, one of which 

 is referred to a genus (^Tudora) now living only in the \yest 

 Indies, but which occurs in the Eocene fossils of the Paris 

 basin. In the south there are several species of Melanopsis and 

 Neritina. 



The States of Northern Africa have a thoroughly Mediterra- 

 nean fauna, whose facies on the whole shows rather more affinity 

 to Spain than to Sicily. The Helices of Morocco and Algeria 

 belong to the same groups as those of southern Spain. Many 

 are of a dead white colour, the better to resist the scorching 

 effect of the sun. Ferussacia is abundant, G-eomalaeus and Par- 



