CHAPTER V 



THE DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS 



THE sketch now given of the broader features of the 

 distribution of plants over the various parts of the earth's 

 surface will apply, with little modification, to the various 

 classes of animal life, which, although having the power of 

 locomotion, are yet by the necessity of acquiring food and 

 preserving themselves from enemies, almost as strictly 

 limited to definite areas as are plants themselves. 



It will only be necessary to give a few facts to illustrate 

 this, for which purpose insects and birds afford the most 

 instructive materials. We will begin with the Lepidoptera, 

 or Butterflies and Moths, in our own country and in a typical 

 county. The following data have been kindly furnished by 

 Mr. William Cole, F.L.S., Hon. Sec. of the Essex Field 

 Club. 



DISTRIBUTION OF LEPIDOPTERA 



Area, 

 Sq. Miles. S P ecies ' 



Great Britain .... 87,500 2070 



Essex i,53o 1655 



In order to compare the numbers in a smaller area, I 

 have only materials for the Macrolepidoptera or Butterflies 

 and larger Moths. 



Sq. Miles. Species. 



Great Britain . . . . 87,500 822 



Essex. . ... . . 1,530 620 



Epping Forest . . . . 10 428 



It is interesting to note here the curious correspondence 

 with the number of the flowering plants, which in the mean 

 of twelve counties was almost the same as the area in miles ; 



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