chap, x.] THE PALiEARCTIC REGION. 227 



procyonoides), an animal confined to North China, Japan, and 

 the Amoor Valley, and having no close allies in any other part 

 of the globe. In the distance are some deer, a group of animals 

 very abundant and varied in this part of the Palaearctic region. 



Reptiles and Amphibia. — Reptiles are scarce in North China, 

 only four or five species of snakes, a lizard and one of the Geck- 

 otidae occurring in the country round Pekin. The genus Halys 

 is the most characteristic form of snake, while Callophis, an 

 oriental genus, extends to Japan. Among lizards, Plestiodon, 

 Maybouya, Tachydromus, and Gecko reach Japan, the two latter 

 being very characteristic of the Oriental region. 



Amphibia are more abundant and interesting ; Hynobius, 

 Onychodactylus, and Sieboldtia (Salamandridae) being peculiar 

 to it, while most of the European genera are also represented. 



Fresh-water Fish. — Of these there are a few peculiar genera ; 

 as Plecoglossvs (Salmonidae) from Japan; Achilognathus, Pseu- 

 doperilampus, Ochetobius, and Opsariichthys (Cyprinidae) ; and 

 there are many other Chinese Cyprinidae belonging to the border 

 land of the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. 



Insects — The butterflies of this sub-region exhibit the same 

 mixture of tropical and temperate forms as the birds. Most of 

 the common European genera are represented, and there are 

 species of Parnassius in Japan and the Amoor. Isodema, a 

 peculiar genus of Nymphalidae is found near Ningpo, just within 

 our limits ; and Sericinus, one of the most beautiful genera of 

 Papilionidae is peculiar to North China, where four species occur, 

 thus balancing the Thais and Doritis of Europe. The genus 

 Zephyrus (Lycaenidae) is well represented by six species in Japan 

 and the Amoor, against two in Europe. Papilio parts and 

 P. Manor, magnificent insects of wholly tropical appearance, 

 abound near Pekin, and allied forms inhabit Japan and the 

 Amoor, as well as P. demetrius and P. alcinous belonging to 

 the " Protenor " group of the Himalayas. Other tropical genera 

 occurring in Japan, the Amoor, or North China are, Debis, 

 Neope, Mycalesis, Ypthimia (Satyridae) ; Thaumantis (Mor- 

 phidae), at Shanghae ; Euripus, Neptis, Athyma (Nymphalidae) ; 

 Terias (Pieridae) ; and the above-mentioned Papilionidae. 



