CHAP. XIV.] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 23 



Having already given a sketch of the zoological features of 

 the Neotropical region as a whole, the greater part of which will 

 apply to this sub-region, we must here confine ourselves to an 

 indication of the more important groups which, on the one hand, 

 are confined to it, and on the other are absent ; together with a 

 notice of its special relations to other regions. 



Mammalia. — Many of the most remarkable of the American 

 monkeys are limited to this sub-region'; as Lagothrix, Pithecia, 

 and Brachyurus, limited to the great Amazonian forests ; Eriodes 

 to south-east Brazil ; and Callithrix to tropical South America. 

 All the marmosets (Hapalidse) are also confined to this sub-region, 

 one only being found at Panama, and perhaps extending a little 

 beyond it. Among other peculiar forms, are 8 genera of bats ; 

 3 peculiar forms of wild dog ; Pteronura, a genus of otters ; 

 Inia, a peculiar form of dolphin inhabiting the upper waters of 

 the Amazon ; tapirs of the genus Tapirus (a distinct genus being 

 found north of Panama) ; 4 genera of Muridse ; Ctenomys, a genus 

 of Octodontidse ; the whole family of Echimyidse, or spiny rats, 

 (as far as the American continent is concerned) consisting of 8 

 genera and 28 species ; Chmtoriiys, a genus of Cercolabidse ; the 

 capybara {Hydrochcerus) the largest known rodent, belonging to 

 the Caviidse ; the larger ant-eaters {Myrmecophaga) ; sloths of the 

 genus Bradypus ; 2 genera of armadillos (Dasypodidae) ; and two 

 peculiar forms of the opossum family (Didelphyidse). No group 

 that is typically Neotropical is absent from this sub-region, 

 except such as are peculiar to other single sub-regions and which 

 will be noticed accordingly. The occurrence of a solitary species 

 of hare (Lepiis hraziliensis) in central Brazil and the Andes, is 

 remarkable, as it is cut off from all its allies, the genus not being 

 known to occur elsewhere on the continent further south than 

 Costa Eica. The only important external relation indicated by 

 the Mammalia of this sub-region is towards the Ethiopian region, 

 2 genera of Echimyidse, Aulacodes and Petromys, occurring in 

 South and South-east Africa. 



Plate IV. Characteristic Neotropical Mammalia. — Our illustra- 

 tion represents a mountainous forest in Brazil, the part of South 

 America where the Neotropical Mammalia are perhaps best 



Vol. II.— 3 



