GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. 539 



ones which we observe in the geographical distribution of 

 animated beings. If a naturalist familiar with the fauna of 

 this country, visit distant regions, he sees, in proportion as he 

 advances, the earth peopled with animals new to him, and 

 these species next disappear in their turn to make room for 

 other species equally unknown to him. If, quitting France, 

 he lands in South Africa, he will find but a very small num- 

 ber of animals similar to those he had seen in Europe, and he 

 will observe, especially, the large-eared elephant, the hippopo- 

 tamus, the double-horned rhinoceros, the giraffe, innumerable 

 flocks of antelopes, the zebra ; the Cape buffalo, whose horns 

 cover by their large base all the forehead ; the black-maned 

 lion ; the chimpanzee, which, of all animals, most resembles 

 man ; the cynocephalus, or dog-faced ape ; peculiar species of 

 vultures ; a number of bright-plumaged birds, strangers to 

 Europe ; insects equally different from those of the north, the 

 fatal termites, for example, which live in numerous societies, 

 and build of the soil habitations of considerable elevation 

 and most singular construction. 



626. If our zoologist quits the Cape of Good Hope and 

 penetrates into the large island of Madagascar, he will there 

 find a still different fauna. There he will no longer observe 

 the large quadrupeds he found in Africa, and the family of 

 the apes will be replaced by other mammals, equally well 

 formed to climb trees, but more resembling the carnivora, 

 and called by naturalists the Makis : he will meet with the 

 Aye-aye, an animal of the most singular nature, which seems 

 to be the object of a sort of veneration on the part of the in- 

 habitants, and which is essentially a true Quadrumanous 

 animal ; the tenrecs, small insectivorous mammals, which 

 have the back protected with spines or quills, like our hedge- 

 hogs, but which yet do not roll themselves up into a ball ; 

 the cleft-nosed chameleon, and several curious reptiles not 

 found elsewhere, as well as insects no less characteristic of 

 this region. 



627. Still travelling onwards and arriving in India, our 

 traveller will find an elephant distinct from that of Africa ; 

 oxen, bears, rhinoceroses, antelopes ; stags, equally different 

 from those of Europe and of Africa ; the oran-outan, and 

 a number of other apes peculiar to these countries ; the royal 

 tiger, the argus, the peacock, the pheasant, and an almost 

 innumerable multitude of birds, reptiles, and insects unknown 

 elsewhere. 



