3 14 HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



in the high Alps, and which has been supposed to be a 

 typical Alpine form. It is known, however, to occur 

 also in North Italy and in Bohemia, while Microtus 

 leucurus of the Pyrenees is identical with this 

 species. But its range is by no means confined to 

 Europe, for it has also been discovered in Syria 

 and Palestine, while a closely allied form exists in 

 the Himalayan Mountains. This shows clearly that 

 the species has migrated to the Alps from Asia 

 Minor. That this migration may have taken place 

 at an early period at a time when Sardinia and 

 Corsica were still connected with Southern Europe 

 is indicated by the occurrence of an extinct Vole 

 {Microtus brecciensis) in Sardinian and Corsican 

 pleistocene (?) deposits. 



All the Alpine species mentioned except the 

 Chamois can be easily traced to their former Asiatic 

 home. But even it has its nearest relations in Asia. 

 I might also refer to another Vole (Evotomys Nageri) 

 which is practically confined to the Alps and 

 Northern Italy, and which has probably originated 

 there, though most of its nearest relations are either 

 Asiatic or North American species. 



But besides these Asiatic immigrants and their 

 modified descendants we have a small truly native 

 Alpine mammalian fauna. Sqrexalpinus the Alpine 

 Shrew occurs only in the Alps, the Harz Mountains, 

 Pyrenees, and Carpathians. The genus has been 

 found in European eocene strata, in vastly older 

 deposits in our own continent than elsewhere, so 



