THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MOLLUSCA. 475 



greater part of the east coast of Africa ; the Ked Sea ; Persian Gulf ; 

 the Asiatic coast, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. 



The molluscs of the Bed Sea remind us of those of India ; the per- 

 centage of those found also in the Mediterranean being much less. 

 The shells of the Persian Gulf are but little known ; one species, the 

 brindled cowry (Cypvtea princeps), has been sold for fifty pounds. 



The seas of New Zealand and Australia have been formed into a 

 province. As might be anticipated, their mollusca have little in 

 common with those of the rest of the globe. 



The Japonic province includes the coast of Japan and the Corea. 



The Aleutian province, the centre of which may be taken to be the 

 Aleutian islands, shows great analogy with the Boreal province of 

 the west, a considerable number of the shells being identical a fact 

 especially interesting when we consider that very few species are 

 found common to both the south-eastern and south-western coasts of 

 America. 



The Californian province is very distinct from that of Panama; 

 the most numerous genera found there, are Chiton, Acmsea, Fissurella, 

 Trochus, and Purpura. 



The marine shells of Panama are upwards of thirteen hundrea ; 

 the region included stretches from the Gulf of California to Peru. 

 For our knowledge of this province we are much indebted to the 

 researches of Dr. P. P. Carpenter, who has catalogued six hundred 

 and fifty-four species, as found at Mazattan. 



The Peruvian province contains a long list of species, and extends 

 from Callao to Valparaiso. 



The Magellanic province includes the extreme south of America 

 and the Falkland Islands. Many genera, the species of which are 

 usually small, here reach an enormous size, and afford, in many cases, 

 the chief animal food consumed by the quadrupeds and human 

 population of that wild and desolate coast. 



The Patagonian province extends from St. Catharina to Point Melo 

 on the east coast. 



The number of species found also in the Falkland Islands is very 

 Fmall ; but a large number are identical with Brazilian species ; yet 

 the majority are peculiar. 



The Caribbean province extends from Brazil to the West Indies, 

 and includes, also, the northern coast of South America and the Gulf 



