LIFE OF MAN AFFECTED BY PHYSICAL FEATURES 541 



dodo of Mauritius, now extinct, being one of the most 

 notable. 



The absence of predatory animals has probably made the 

 development of such forms possible. The great species 

 of tortoise from the Galapagos Islands perhaps owes its 

 development to the same cause. Nowhere else have such 

 huge tortoises been found. The remarkable fauna and 

 flora found on oceanic islands may be regarded as due to 

 their geographical isolation. 



Life of Man as Affected by Physical Features. Moun- 

 tains offer a retreat to persecuted people as well as to ani- 

 mals. Here are often found the races which once inhabited 



A COTTAGE IN THE SCOTCH HIGHLANDS 



the surrounding plains, but which have been driven from 

 them by conquerors. The people of Wales and the Scotch 

 Highlanders are probably descendants from more ancient 

 inhabitants of the island than those in control to-day. The 



