Febeuakt 5, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



215 



This work is tlie first thoroughly accurate 

 and complete catalogue of the mammals of the 

 Iberian peninsula and the Balearic Islands 

 which has been published. It properly in- 

 cludes the marine mammalia of the surround- 

 ing seas, which, as the author justly remarks, 

 " are as much entitled to be regarded as form- 

 ing a part of the mammalian fauna of the 

 region as the marine birds and birds of pas- 

 sage are entitled to be reckoned as belonging 

 to its avifauna." 



The author also includes under the Primates 

 an account of the ape of Gibraltar, Macaca 

 sylvanus (Linne), stating with excellent logic, 

 that, whether these animals were originally 

 introduced from Africa, as contended by some, 

 or whether existing as survivors of their race, 

 which once was widely spread over Europe, 

 as is testified by paleontological evidence, they 

 have been from time immemorial domiciled 

 upon the Eock of Gibraltar, and are therefore 

 truly a part of the peninsular fauna. 



The appearance of Mr. Gerrit S. Miller's 

 " Catalogue of the Mammals of Western 

 Europe," recently published by the trustees of 

 the British Museum, occurred when the work 

 we are reviewing was about half -written, but 

 as Miller's book is in English, and only gives 

 the terrestrial species found in Spain, in many 

 cases simply citing them as occurring on the 

 peninsula, the writer has not felt himself 

 deterred by the more extensive Catalogue of 

 his learned American friend from issuing the 

 present work.. 



Investigation of the pages of this book shows 

 that there are one hundred and twenty-two 

 species or subspecies of mammalia, which occur 

 in the feral state on the peninsula. They are 

 distribiited as follows: 



Species and 

 Orders Genera Subspecies 



Inseotivora 7 17 



Chiroptera 9 21 



Carnivora 14 24 



Primates 1 1 



Eodentia 11 35 



Artiodaetyla 6 12 



Cetaeea 11 12 



Total 59 122 



From the foregoing it is plain that the 

 peninsula possesses a relatively extensive mam- 

 malian fauna. The area of Spain, Portugal 

 and the Balearic Islands somewhat exceeds the 

 area of New England, the Middle States, 

 Maryland and Virginia combined. The num- 

 ber of species of mammals occurring in the 

 Iberian region indicates almost as rich a fauna 

 as that occurring in the northeastern portion 

 of the United States. One reason for the 

 relative richness of the mammalian fauna of 

 the peninsula is found in the extremely 

 diversified character of its surface, in which 

 there is the greatest variety of climates, rang- 

 ing from that of the alpine summits of the 

 Pyrenees and Sierras to the hot subtropical 

 valleys of the south and east. Another factor 

 is the probable survival in portions of this 

 region of species elsewhere extinct in Europe 

 and allied to those of north Africa. The 

 genera Macaca, Oenetta and Mungos may, it 

 is true, be due to immigration from, north 

 Africa, but are regarded by Trouessart and 

 others as probably representing survivals from 

 a Tertiary fauna, which elsewhere in Europe 

 has become extinct. 



A very interesting feature of the Iberian 

 fauna is the fact that through long isolation 

 many forms have become subspecifically 

 differentiated. The ibex and the chamois of 

 Spain are distinctly different from those of 

 Switzerland and the Alps of Italy, and anal- 

 ogous differences in pelage, and even in form, 

 are revealed in other genera. This fact is 

 interestingly set forth in the pages of the work 

 before us. 



For Spanish readers and for those in other 

 lands who desire to acquaint themselves with 

 the mammalian fauna of Spain and Portugal 

 this book is especially to be commended. 

 Written in a singularly lucid and agreeable 

 style, embodying the results of the very latest 

 studies, and beautifully illustrated by the 

 author himself, who is not only a learned zool- 

 ogist, but a most skilful artist and draughts- 

 man, the work leaves a most charming impres- 

 sion upon the mind of the student. It is in 

 its way a model, and signalizes the great ad- 



