342 Mr. R. Trimen’s (Votes on 
The very small amount of local peculiarity is markedly appa- 
rent when shown in a tabular form, the only species which are 
endemic being Papilio Phorbanta and Pamphila Marchali; or but 
ql; of the whole Rhopalocerous fauna. As might be inferred from 
the relative position of the islands, there is a large proportion of 
the Mauritian species common to Bourbon (Réunion) and to 
Madagascar, amounting in the former case to nearly, and in the 
latter to quite, 3 of the entire number. As regards Madagascar, 
it must be borne in mind how very little is known of its insect, 
and indeed of its general, fauna; for it is worthy of note that the 
five Mauritian species (apart from the endemic forms mentioned 
above) not recorded to occur there are all natives of the African 
Continent, and it seems most improbable that these species, 
common to South Eastern Africa and Mauritius, should not in- 
habit the great intermediate region. 
Looking to Asia, one cannot but be struck by the entire absence 
of any Oriental butterflies in Mauritius, the eight species common 
to Asia and Mauritius being not only of universal distribution 
throughout Africa, but, without exception, remarkable for all but 
cosmopolitan range. The same remark applies to the Rhopalo- 
cera of the neighbouring Island of Bourbon, the only species 
common to it and to Asia being the eight just referred to. Those 
naturalists who are disposed to assign an Indian (or South East 
Asian) affinity to the fauna of Madagascar ought to find some 
confirmation of their theory in the zoology of the islands lying 
further to the eastward, but such evidence has not, to the best of 
my knowledge, been forthcoming,* and, certainly, all that is 
* As regards the Avi-fauna of Mauritius, J take the opportunity of men- 
tioning that Mr. Edward Newton, who has for some years resided in that 
Island, and availed himself to the utmost of his excellent opportunities of in- 
vestigating the ornithology of the Mascarene group, has most kindly given 
me notes on the range and affinities of the birds found in Mauritius. I have 
thus Mr. Newton’s authority (and it is a high one), for stating that, of the 
sixteen species which may be considered actual natives (there are thirty-two 
residents) of the island, not one is known to inhabit Asia, and only one 
(Ardea atricapilla) to occur in Africa, Yet the insular endemic species are 
but two in number (Tinnunculus punctatus and Pale@ornis eques); while seven 
species also inhabit Bourbon, and three range to Madagascar. Mr. Newton 
himself sees reason to incline to the theory of Indian affinities ; but, from 
his notes, I find that (excluding the Seychelles fauna from consideration) the 
balance is fairly struck, when we turn to the bird genera, between Africa and 
Asia, two genera of either region not occurring in the other having Mauritian 
representatives. (Sea-birds are not included in the numbers given.) 
