^Syf 1 ] Recent Literature. $g 



Sclaterian system, of which formerly Prof. Newton was a loyal adherent 

 Thus the Palaearctic and Nearctic Regions of Sclater are comhined to form 

 a single circumpolar area, under the name 'Holarctic Region,' while New 

 Zealand, in accordance with Prof. Huxlev's scheme, is separated from 

 Sclater's Australian Region to form a 'New Zealand Region.' Prof. 

 Newton's "six primary regions" are : (1) the New Zealand Region, (2) 

 the Australian Region, (3) the Neotropical Region, (4) the Holarctic 

 Region, (5) the Ethiopian Region, (6) the Indian Region. Each of these, 

 except the first, is divided into a number of 'subregions,' and some of these 

 into 'provinces,' of which lack of space here forbids a detailed notice. A 

 map of the world accompanies the article, showing approximately these 

 six zoogeographical Regions. 



Respecting the Holarctic Region, however, we may quote as follows: 

 "As lias been stated in the introductory portion of this article, the combina- 

 tion intimated by this phrase [the Holarctic Region], though sanctioned 

 in spirit by Prof. Huxley, wholly contravenes the opinion expressed by 

 two of the leading authorities on the subject — Messrs. Sclater and Wallace. 

 The arguments of the former being based on positive facts, or at least on 

 what seemed at the time to be such, must be met by corresponding facts. 

 Those of the latter having a more hypothetical foundation — the notion 

 that each of the primary divisions of the earth's surface should comprehend 

 about the same extent — require less consideration. The natural philoso- 

 pher regards quality rather than quantity, and things must be weighed as 

 well as measured, analyzed as well as surveyed. . . . But not to wander 

 from our present business, no one who will investigate the Avifauna of 

 that part of North America lying outside the boundary (if it can ever be 

 traced) of the Neotropical Region, will find in the Nearctic area more 

 than a single family of Birds [Chamaeidse] that is peculiar to it, and that 

 is a family of position so doubtful that some of those who have most 

 closely studied it refer it to one or another of well-known families — Parida: 

 or Troglodytidce — both of which are widely dispersed and admittedly 

 contain genera that differ considerably. . . . Every other Nearctic family 

 is common to the Neotropical Region or to the Palsearcticarea, or to both. 

 Thus regarded from every ornithological aspect, what has been called the 

 Nearctic 'Region' has no right to be so accounted, since its peculiarity is 

 numerically of less importance than some of the Subregions of the Neo- 

 tropical Region. . . ." 



In discussing these several regions Prof. Newton brings into strong 

 relief their chief characteristics, and especially the prevalence of weak, 

 isolated and ancient ornithic types in New Zealand, and to a less degree 

 in Australia, and their greater prevalence in South America than in any 

 other part of the world except in Australia and New Zealand. On the 

 other hand, the "Holarctic Region seems to have the most highly developed 

 Fauna, in that it is one from which the weakest types have generally been 

 eliminated, though that result is chiefly seen in its Palaearctic area, and 

 perhaps especially in the western part of this. . . ." 



