

MADAGASCAR 



occur on tlie mainland, 6 on the Comoros, one on the Seychelles, 

 and 16 in Mauritiiis. The sub-genera Acroptychia and Hainesia 

 are peculiar. 



The fresh-water MoUusca of Madau;ascar contain further 



Fig. 222. — Pachyotus auris 

 vulpina Desli., St.Heleua 

 (sub-fossil). 



Fig. 223. --Helix {RelicojjJimita) 

 Souverbiana Fiscli., Mada- 

 gascar, showing embryonic 

 shell, X |. 



traces of Indian relationship. Thus we find two species of 

 Paludomus, a genus whose metropolis is Ceylon, India, and 

 Further India, and which is barely represented on the Seychelles 

 and in the Somali district. Melanatria, which is pecidiar to 

 Madagascar, has its nearest affinities in the Cingalese and East 

 Indian faunas. Several of the Melania and the two Bithynia 



are of a type entirely wanting in Africa, 

 but common in the Indo-Malay sub- 

 region. Not a single one of the char- 

 acteristic African fresh -water bivalves 

 {Mutcla, Siiatha, Aetheria, Galatea, etc.) 

 has been found in Madagascar. On 

 the other hand, certain African Gaster- 

 FiG.22i.—Cyclosiomaccmpcmn- opoda, such as CJeojmtra and Isidora, 

 latum Pfr., Madagascar. occur, indicating, ill couimon witli the 

 land Mollusca, that an ultimate land connexion with Africa must 

 have taken place, but at an immeasurably remote period. 



