I.] REALMS AND REGIONS. 2J 



of Dr Hart Merriam 1 in 1892, whose views are fully discussed in 

 the sequel. 



It will accordingly suffice for our present purpose to say that in 

 1893 an anonymous writer 2 proposed to take the terms NOTOG^EA, 

 NEOG^A, and ARCTOG^A to indicate the three major divisions of 

 Dr Blanford's classification ; the same terms being used by Mr 

 W. L. Sclater 3 in a nearly similar sense. 



The following scheme is the one adopted in the present 

 volume, viz. : 



I. NOTOG^EIC REALM. i. Australian Region. 



2. Polynesian Region. 



3. Hawaiian Region. 



4. Austro-Malayan Region. 



II. NEOG^EIC REALM. Neotropical Region. 



III. ARCTOG^EIC REALM. i. Malagasy Region. 



2. Ethiopian Region. 



3. Oriental Region. 



4. Holarctic Region. 



5. Sonoran Region. 



It will be noticed that the three realms correspond to the three 

 great evolutionary centres of mammals alluded to in an earlier 

 page. 



It may be added that, in a work expressly devoted to the 

 geographical distribution of mammals, it will be unnecessary to 

 allude to the schemes proposed on the evidence of other groups of 

 animals, and we may accordingly proceed forthwith to the con- 

 sideration of the distinctive features of the various realms and 

 regions here adopted. 



1 Appendix, No. 19. 2 Ibid., No. 4, p. 289. 3 Ibid., No. 28. 



