260 THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. [CHAP. 



(Mam's), together with the rodent genera Nannosciurus, Golunda 

 and Atherura. The probable relationship between Ethiopia and 

 Neogaea has been sufficiently discussed in the third chapter. 



Although, from the mammalian point of view, Ethiopia is a 

 very modern region, as a continent it is one of the oldest, the 

 greater portion of its area having been land since the Palaeozoic 

 epoch. As has been shown in an earlier chapter, in Palaeozoic 

 times southern Africa formed a portion of the great southern or 

 equatorial continent distinguished from more northern lands by 

 the peculiar characteristics of its flora; and it is probable that 

 it remained connected with India until late in the Secondary 

 epoch 1 ; as is proved by the identity of the flora and reptiles of the 

 two areas. Early, however, in this epoch there must also have 

 been free communication with Europe, as shewn by the close 

 alliance of the anomodont reptiles of the two continents, and 

 likewise by the occurrence in both of the mammalian genus 

 Tritylodon. In the Cretaceous, so far as vertebrates are conf 

 cerned, our knowledge of the Ethiopian region is practically a 

 blank. 



In conformity with the plan adopted in other cases, the sub- 

 regions into which Ethiopian Africa may be divided 



Sub-regions. . . 



will be treated very briefly. 



Writing of the desert-tracts of the Saharan sub-region, where 

 the necessary conditions for existence are largely wanting, Dr 

 Heilprin observes that " there is a marked impoverishment of the 

 fauna. The more formidable carnivores, such as the lion and the 

 leopard, are absent from most districts, leaving their places to be 

 filled by some minor cats, the hyaena, jackal, fox, and fennec. 

 The hoofed animals are represented (in some parts) by the buffalo, 

 and a limited number of antelopes (Gazella, Oryx, and Addax). 

 Among rodents the families of rats (Muridce) and jumping-mice 

 (Dipodidcd) are fairly represented, in addition to which we have 

 the porcupine and hare (Lepus mediterraneus}. The ostrich is 

 sufficiently abundant throughout most of the sub-region." 



In marked contrast to the poverty of the Saharan districts, 

 is the remarkable richness of the great equatorial forest-tract, 



1 Vide siipra, p. 224. 



