1864. | Herscugn on the Solar Spots. 219 
tine from a common stock with the Solenodon,* and to account for 
the fact that the Lemuride, as a body, are certainly more nearly allied 
to the weaker forms of American monkeys than to any of the Simiide 
of the Old World. 
To conclude, therefore, granted the hypothesis of the derivative 
origin of species, the anomalies of the Mammal-fauna of Madagascar 
can best be explained by supposing that, anterior to the existence of 
Africa in its present shape, a large continent occupied parts of the 
Atlantic and Indian Ocean stretching out towards (what is now) America 
on the west, and to India and its islands on the east; that this con- 
tinent was broken up into islands, of which some became amalgamated 
with the present continent of Africa, and some possibly with what is 
now Asia—and that in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands we have 
existing relics of this great continent, for which as the original focus of 
the “ Stirps Lemurum,” I should propose the name Lemuria ! 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 
The accompanying sketch by Mr. Wolf will serve to illustrate the more 
remarkable types of the Mammal-kind of Madagascar. On the summit of the 
trees are Lemurs of different species (Lemur leucomystax, L. varius, L. catta, and 
L. xanthomystaz). In the centre is the Aye-aye ; on the ground to the right is 
one of the remarkable Carnivores of the island (Galidictis vittata) staring at 
it; on the left is the little Hchinogale telfairi, endeavouring to make its escape 
from such an extraordinary assemblage. In the background may be seen the 
celebrated Traveller’s-tree (Urania speciosa), and other marked forms of Mada- 
gascarian vegetation. 
ON THE SOLAR SPOTS. 
By Siz Joun F. W. Herscuet, Bart., K.H., D.C.L., F.R.S. 
Tuer physical constitution of the sun, and the nature of the source 
from which its expenditure of light and heat is supplied, must be 
regarded as by far the most important astronomical problem which 
remains unresolved, connected as it is not only with the maintenance 
of all animated existence, but as a matter of speculative interest with 
every branch of physical science; since there is not one which has 
not to be laid under contribution in support or confutation of the 
various theories which have been, and will probably be henceforward, 
proposed to account for it. Apart from the knowledge of the dimen- 
sions and mean density of the sun which we derive from the great 
fact of planetary Astronomy, from its presumed connection with the 
Zodiacal light, and from the appendages to its disc, which become 
visible in total eclipses, and which demonstrate the existence of a 
solar atmosphere extending to a vast distance beyond the general 
* This single case, it must be reasonably allowed, would be hardly sufficient 
for the foundation of so startling a supposition; but the presence in Madagascar 
of American forms of Serpents (Xiphosoma, Heterodon, Philodryas, and Lepto- 
deira), of Iguanoid Lizards, and even of American Insects, necessitates some such 
hypothesis. 
