158 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. CnAr. 



CHAPTER Vir. 



SPECIES AND SPACE. 



The Geographical Distribution of Anlmala presents DiUlculties. — These not Insur- 

 mountable in themselves; harmonize with other Difliculties. — Frosh-wuter 

 Fishes. — Forms common to Africa and India; to Africa and South America; 

 to China and Australia; to North America and China; to New Zealand and 

 South America; to South America and Tasmania; to South America and 

 Australia. — Plcurodont Lizards. — Insectivorous Mammals. — Similarity of Euro- 

 pean and South Aniericiin Frogs. — Analogy between Europoan Salmon and 

 Fishes of New Zealand, etc. — An Ancient Antarctic Continent probable. — 

 Other Modes of accounting for Facts of Distribution. — Independent Origin of 

 Closely-similar Forms. — Conclusion. 



TuE study of the distribution of animals over the earth^s 

 surface presents us with many facts havin<r certain not 

 unimportant bearings on the question of specific origin. 

 Among these are instances which, at least at first siglit, 

 appear to conflict with tlie Darwinian theory of " Natural 

 Selection." It is not, however, here contended that siicii 

 facts do by any means constitute by themselves obstacles 

 which cannot be got over. Indeed, it would be diflicult to 

 imagine any obstacles of the kind which could not be sur- 

 mounted by an indcfniite number of terrestrial modifica- 

 tions of surface — submergences and emergences — ^junctions 

 and separations of continents in all directions and combina- 

 tions of any desired degree of frequency. All this being 

 supplemented by the intercalation of armies of enemies, 

 multitudes of ancestors of all kinds, and myriads of con- 

 necting forms, whose ralson cVetrc may be siinj)ly their 

 utility or necessity for the support of the theory of ''Natu- 

 ral Selection." 



