498 THE CAT. [CHAP. xiy. 



snakes, the curious lizards, C/iirotes and Phrijnosoma^ and various 

 terrapins, besides alligators, but no chameleons or true vipers. The 

 tailed-Batrachians have their head- quarters in this region. Besides 

 other genera peculiar to it may be mentioned : the Menopoma, 

 Menolranchm, Amphinama, and Siren, as well as the axolotl. Cer- 

 tain ganoid fishes are also noteworthy, such as Amia, the bony pike 

 (Lepidosteus) , and Scaphirhynchus. 



This region mostly corresponds with our North American cat- 

 region, but extends further southwards, as our North American 

 feline region excludes Mexico and Southern Texas, and even parts of 

 Louisiana and Arkansas. 



The ORIENTAL or INDIAN REGION embraces India, Burrnah, 

 Southern China, the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, including the 

 Philippine Islands and the island of Bally, but excluding Lombok, 

 Celebes, and the islands south and east of these. Amongst its animal 

 inhabitants are many monkeys. There are also many deer, and but 

 few antelopes.* Elephants and rhinoceroses are found there, and also 

 chevrotains (Tragulus), pangolins, and a tapir. Amongst its birds 

 may be noted the peacock, the arg;us and fire-backed pheasants, true 

 fowls, hornbills, bee-eaters, many pigeons, parrots, cuckoos, and wood- 

 peckers, and a few sunbirds (Nectarinidce). As to reptiles, we find 

 a multitude of snakes amongst them the cobras and curious Uro- 

 peltidce, or shield-tailed snakes but no rattle-snakes with many 

 lizards, including chameleons and the little flying-dragon (Draco). 

 We also find crocodiles and gavials, but no alligators, while in the 

 Indian Ocean we find sea-snakes. Frogs and toads are numerous, 

 but efts are wanting, save as immigrants from the Palae-arctic region. 

 We, however, meet with the singular Ophiomorpha, or snake-like 

 creatures of the frog's class, i.e., of the class Batrachia. 



This region then is a very well defined one, and corresponds with 

 our South-eastern Asiatic feline region. It is remarkable that the 

 island of Bally is the extreme limit of the Indian general zoological 

 region as well as of the South Asiatic feline region. 



The ETHIOPIAN REGION is made up of Africa, south of the Sahara, 

 with Arabia, the Seychelle islands, Mauritius, and Madagascar. It 

 agrees with India in having elephants and rhinoceroses ; but zebras, 

 quaggas, certain hogs, the hippopotamus, the giraffe, the aquatic 

 inusk-deer, and Cape ant-eater (Orycteropus), are all peculiarly 

 African. Africa is also specially remarkable as the home of multi- 

 tudes of antelopes of many different kinds, great herds of which 

 range over its southern plains. There are, however, no bears, deer, 

 true oxen, goats, or sheep. Peacocks, pheasants, and jungle fowls 

 are also wanting amongst its birds, while in their place we find the 

 guinea fowls. The secretary bird, Balceniceps, the Balearic crane, and 

 ostrich, are forms peculiar to Africa, which is also the great home of 

 the weaver-birds and sun-birds. Reptiles abound tortoises, lizards, 

 and snakes, amongst which latter (as in India) there are cobras, but 



* Amongst them is the four-horned antelope. 



