356 



REPORT — 1856. 



80. Now let it be carefully borne in mind that every column of this resume 

 is, without doubt, very far from the actual truth. Whatever may be learnt 

 from it must be estimated positively, and by no means negatively, JE.ff. not- 

 withstanding the scrutinizing researches of Cuming, C.B.Adams, Hinds, 

 Bridges and others in the Bay of Panama, and our almost complete ignorance 

 of all parts of the Gulf except its entrance, 808 species are quoted from the 

 latter and only 697 species from the former, giving a balance of 111 species 

 in favour of the northern station. Now when it is borne in mind that Panama 

 is in the central tropical region, that it receives both the North American 

 species as they travel southwards, and the South American as they move 

 upwards, besides (in all probability) a little nest of bay shells peculiar to its 

 own quiet haunts ; while the Gulf fauna receives scarcely any importations 

 from the north, and only those southern forms of life which are capable of 

 subsisting at the very borders or beyond the tropics; it nmst be evident that 

 much more has to be done before even the central portion has been brought 

 up to its proper standing. Then let it be remembered how many species 

 must be yet unknown in the Gulf district. Large as is our acquaintance 

 ■witrh the minute species, as the whole of it has been obtained by ransacking 

 the worm-eaten passages of a few C/iamce and SpondyLi, and examining the 

 dirt on the backs of other shells, what may be expected when the shores and 

 sea-bed have been subjected to the minute examination of a Barlee, an Alder, 

 or a Beau! In the British fauna, 170 out of 511 species are minute. It 

 might have been thought that degeneration of size was a condition of high 

 latitudes ; but wherever attention has been paid, the tropical seas are found 



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