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PHYSIOLOGICAL ANIMAL GEOGRAPHY 607 
IV. THE PROBLEMS, METHODS, AND RELATIONS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL 
ANIMAL GEOGRAPHY 
A. SOME PROBLEMS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL-ANIMAL-GEOGRA PHY 
1. Behavior problems. That the behavior of animals reflects 
their general conditions of existence, I think will not be seriously 
doubted. Some of the geographic problems may be stated as 
follows: 
a. Behavior and geographic conditions. How much, and 
what features of the geographic conditions, for example, such as 
the steppe, the tundra, or the tropical forest, are reflected by the 
behavior of animals? Are these characteristics acquired by the 
individual or are they hereditary? In connection with the first 
question, I quote Brehm on the Arctic fox: 
His whole character and conduct are quite different from those of 
our reynard and his near relatives. One scarcely does him injustice 
in describing him as a degenerate member of a distinguished family, 
unusually gifted, intelligent, and ingenious. Of the slyness and inge- 
nuity, the calculating craft, of his congeners he evinces hardly any 
trace. His disposition is forward, his manner officious, his behavior, 
foolish. He may be a bold beggar, an impudent vagabond, but he is 
never a cunning thief or robber. He follows his worst enemy; without 
fear he approaches a man sleeping in the open, to snap at a naked limb. 
The behavior of the penguins of Antarctica as described by 
Shackleton is equally interesting. Is it, or is it not, a picture of 
the hard struggle, intense cold, and monotony of the tundra? 
144—_Continued. 
Our second group (or species which occupy only a part of the formation to 
which they belong) is important. Maps of the distribution of trees.by Transeau 
(05) illustrate this. An inspection of these shows that there is a central area 
in the formation, in which species are most numerous, and in which we may con- 
clude the conditions for the majority of the forms are best (optimum). Suitable 
investigation would no doubt show that species thus narrowly distributed are 
limited by the termination of their necessary conditions, and that relative num- 
bers are dependent upon the law of toleration. 
Our third type, or species which occupy intermediate ground between the 
realms, are few so far as observation has been recorded (Ruthven, ’07). 
The above discussion is, however, based on the distribution of morphological 
species. If, however, there are physiological differences, behavior differences, or 
even regulatory responses in the different formations, morphological species and 
their distribution. are unimportant matters. 
