CHAPTER VI. 



THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. 



THE Geographical Distribution of Animals furnishes 

 one of the most important and most interesting depart- 

 ments of study in zoology, and one which is receiving 

 more and more attention from the ablest naturalists. 

 The limits of this book allow, and our present purpose 

 requires, only the most general statement of the facts and 

 principles of the subject. 



It is in the torrid zone that animal life appears in the 

 most numerous and varied forms, and the species of ani- 

 mals diminish in number and brilliancy of color as we go 

 towards the poles. 



Again, each climatic zone of the earth's surface, each 

 zone of altitude, each hemisphere, each grand division of 

 the earth, has its own peculiar fauna. Nay, each of the 

 different parts of every country generally has animals pe- 

 culiar to itself. The same principles obtain in the seas 

 as on the land. Each ocean and sea, each gulf and bay, 

 each zone of depth, so far as life obtains, has its own 

 peculiar animal forms. 



A few facts will serve to illustrate the above principles. 

 The White Bear, the Walrus, the Seal, the Whale, the 

 Narwhal, the Auk, and the Jaegar have their true home 

 in or near the Arctic regions. The Bats and Moles ; 

 the Bears, the Wolves, the Foxes, the Lynxes, the Mar- 

 tens, and the Weasels ; the Squirrels, the Beavers, the 

 Woodchucks, the Rabbits, and the Porcupines ; the Wild 



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