1893. EARTHWORMS AND THE EARTH'S HISTORY. iii 



only worms known from Kerguelen and from Marion Island are 

 members of the same genus. " Ethiopian " Africa has many species 

 of the family which differ more from those of New Zealand than the 

 latter do from those of Patagonia — in fact, they have been placed in a 

 separate genus, Benhamia ; a few members of the same genus or sub- 

 genus occur in the West Indies and one or two in India and Malaya. 

 It is only, however, in Patagonia and Xew Zealand that this genus is 

 the prevailing one ; in the other countries mentioned it occurs, but 

 there are numerous other and more abundant forms. The important 

 point to be noticed is that, as we pass northward from the antarctic 

 region, this particular genus thins out, until in the continents of 

 Europe and Asia it is hardly to be found. 



The former existence of a habitable antarctic continent with 

 arms stretching to New Zealand, Africa, and Patagonia seems to be 

 the clearest way of explaining these facts. 



F. E. Beddard. 



I 



