chap, xi.] THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 267 



that of Africa south of the equator. The extreme peculiarity 

 aud isolation of the flora must not, however, be lost sight of, if 

 we would correctly interpret the phenomena afforded by the dis- 

 tribution of animal life on the African continent. 



Mammalia. — A much larger number of peculiar forms of mam- 

 mals are found here than in any of the other sub-regions, 

 although it is far less in extent than either of the three divi- 

 sions of the continent. Among Insectivora we have the 

 Chrysochloridae, or golden moles, consisting of two genera confined 

 to South Africa ; while the Macroscelididae, or elephant shrews, 

 are also characteristically South African, although ranging as far as 

 Mozambique and the Zambezi, with one outlying species in North 

 Africa. The Viverridse are represented by three peculiar genera, 

 Ariela, Cynictis, and Suricata. The Carnivora present some 

 remarkable forms : Proteles, forming a distinct family allied to 

 the hyaenas and weasels ; and two curious forms of Canidas — 

 Megalotis (the long-eared fox) and Lycaon (the hyaena-dog), the 

 latter found also in parts of East Africa. Hydrogale is a 

 peculiar form of Mustelidae ; Pelea one of the antelopes ; Den- 

 dromys, Malacothrix, and Mystromys are peculiar genera of the 

 mouse family (Muridae) ; Bathyerges one of the mole-rats (Spa- 

 lacidae) ; Pedetes, the Cape-hare, a remarkable form of jerboa ; and 

 Petromys, one of the spiny-rats (Echimyidae). The remarkable 

 Oryderopus, or earth-pig, has one species in South and one in 

 North East Africa. We have thus eighteen genera of mammalia 

 almost or quite peculiar to South Africa. 



Birds. — These do not present so many peculiar forms, yet 

 some are very remarkable. Chcctops is an isolated genus of 

 thrushes (Turdidre). Lioptilus, one of the fruit-thrushes (Pycno- 

 notidae). Pogonocichla, one of the fly-catchers; Urolestes, a 

 shrike ; Promcrops, a sun-bird ; Philetwrns and Chera, weaver- 

 birds ; and three peculiar genera of larks — Spizocorys, Heterocorys, 

 and Tephrocorys, complete the list of peculiar types of Passeres. 

 A wood-pecker, Geocolaptes, is nearly allied to a South American 

 genus. The Cape-dove, (Ena, is confined to South and East Africa 

 and Madagascar ; and Thalassornis is a peculiar form of duck. 

 Several genera are also confined to West and South Africa ; — 



