CHAP, xix.] REPTILES. 423 



regions is well shown in this group, by the Phryniscid.se, 

 Hylidae, and Discoglossidse, which present allied forms in both ; 

 as well as by the genus Liopelma of New Zealand, allied to 

 the Bombinatoridse of South America, and the absence of the 

 otherwise cosmopolitan genus Rana from both continents. The 

 affinity of the Nearctic and Palsearctic regions is shown by the Pro- 

 teidae, which are confined to them, as well as by the genus Triton 

 and almost the whole of the extensive family of the Salaman- 

 dridse. The other regions are also well differentiated, and there 

 is no sign of a special Ethiopian Amphibian fauna extending 

 over the peninsula of India, or of the Oriental and Paljearctic 

 regions merging into each other, except by means of genera of 

 universal distribution. 



Fossil Amphibia. The extinct Labyrinthodontia form a separ- 

 ate order, which existed from the Carboniferous to the Triassic 

 period. No other remains of this class are found till we reach 

 the Tertiary formation, when Newts and Salamanders as well 

 as Frogs and Toads occur, most frequently in the Miocene de- 

 posits. The most remarkable is the Andrias scheuchzeri from 

 the Miocene of (Ening N en, which is allied to Sieboldia maxima, 

 the great salamander of Japan. 



VOL. II. 28 



