282 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi. 



The few insect groups peculiar to these islands will be noted 

 when we deal w^itli the entomology of JMadagascar. 



Extinct fauna of the Mascarcne Islands and Madagascar. — Before 

 quitting the vertebrate groups, we must notice the remarkable 

 birds which have become extinct in these islands little more 

 than a century ago. The most celebrated is the dodo of the 

 Mauritius {Didvs incptus), but an allied genus, Przopliajr?, in- 

 habited Eodriguez, and of both of these almost perfect skeletons 

 have been recovered. Other species probably existed in Bourbon. 

 Eemains of two genera of flightless rails have also been found, 

 Aphanaptcryx and Erytliromaclmis ; and even a heron (Ardca 

 m-cgacephala) which was short-winged and seldom flew ; while 

 in Madagascar there lived a gigantic Struthious bird, the 

 jEpyornis. Some further details as to these extinct forms will 

 be found under the respective families, Didid?e, Eallid.ie, and 

 ^pyornithida}, in the fourth part of this work ; and their bear- 

 ing on the past history of the region will be adverted to in the 

 latter part of this chapter. Dr. Giinther has recently dis- 

 tinguished five species of fossil tortoises from INIauritius and 

 Eodriguez, — all of them quite different from the living species 

 of Aldabra. 



Insects. — The butterflies of Madagascar are not so remarkable 

 as some other orders of insects. There seems to be only one 

 peculiar genus, Heteropsis (Satyridte). The other genera are 

 African, leptoncura being confined to Madagascar and South 

 Africa. There are some fine PapUios of uncommon forms. The 

 most interesting lepidopterous insect, however, is the fine diurnal 

 moth {Ui^ania), as all the other species of the genus inhabit 

 tropical America and the "West Indian Islands. 



The Coleoptera have been better collected, and exhibit some 

 very remarkable aihnities. There is but one j)eculiar genus of 

 Cicindelida?, Pogonostoma, which is allied to the South American 

 genus, Ctenostonm. Another genus, Pcridcxia, is common to 

 Madagascar and South America. None of the important African 

 genera are represented, except Pur 7j7no7j)h a ; while Meglaom ma 

 is common to Madagascar and the Oriental region. 



In the Carabida? we have somewhat similar phenomena on a 



