THE ALPINE FAUNA. 349 



Alpine birds are few in number, and all of them are readily 

 traceable to an Asiatic ancestry. Among the Amphibia, the 

 Salamanders are considered of Alpine origin. 



Dr. Kobelt tells us that a uniformity of character marks the 

 Alpine molluscan fauna. Campylaea, often considered a sub- 

 genus of Heli.\\ Pomatias, Zonites, are looked upon as truly 

 Alpine genera. For very long periods the Alps seem to have 

 received no addition to their molluscan fauna from other areas. 

 The case is very different with the Lcpidoptera^ some of the 

 most striking species being evidently Asiatic immigrants. 

 Some examples of Coleoptera and Orthoptera are mentioned, 

 and their origin discussed. 



We find as the result of these considerations that the 

 majority of the Alpine species are either indigenous or have 

 come from Asia with the Oriental migration. None of the 

 northern or western immigrants appear to be among the 

 characteristic Alpine species, and it seems that the Siberian 

 migrants have not retired to the Alps, as some naturalists have 

 been led to suppose. It is evident that the fauna must have 

 survived the Glacial period on the Alps, though according 

 to geological evidence glaciers of enormous size originated 

 on these mountains. 



The identity of many Alpine species with Scandinavian ones 

 appears at first sight due to a direct migration from the Alps 

 to Scandinavia or vice versd. Perhaps such a migration has 

 taken place to some extent, but it is probable that from a Central 

 Asiatic centre some species spread across Arctic America into 

 Northern Europe, and also westward to the Alps. The Grouse 

 family forms an interesting example. 



There are two older theories which explain the similarity 

 between the Scandinavian and Alpine faunas. Forbes's view, 

 which gained most adherents among naturalists, was that the 

 Scandinavian and Alpine animals were driven into the plain by 

 the cold during the Glacial period, and when they ultimately 

 regained their homes, some individuals of the northern species 



