132 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



union. Thus, the northern range of Hayti is continued westward in Cuba 

 and eastward in Portorico; while the southwestern peninsula extends in a 

 direct line towards Jamaica, the depth between them being 600 fathoms. 

 Between Portorico and Hayti there is only 250 fathoms; while close to the 

 south of all these islands the sea is enormously deep, from more than 1,000 

 fathoms south of Cuba and Jamaica, to 2,000 south of Hayti, and 2,600 

 fathoms near the southeast extremity of Portorico. The importance of the 

 division here pointed out will be seen, when we state that indigenous mam- 

 malia of peculiar genera are found on the western group of islands only; 

 and it is on these that all the chief peculiarities of Antillian zoology are 

 developed. * * * * 



The scene of this illustration is Cuba, the largest of the West Indian 

 islands, and one in which all its peculiar zoological features are well devel- 

 oj)ed. In the foreground is the agouta (Solenodon cubanus), a remarkable in- 

 ssectiverous animal which, with another species inhabiting Hayti, has no 

 allies on the American continent; nor anywhere in the world but in Mada- 

 gascar, where a group of animals are found consisting of the family Cente- 

 tidse, to which Solenodon is said undoubtedly to belong. Above it are a 

 pair of hutias (Capromys fournieri), rat-like animals belonging to the South 

 American family Octodontidas. They live in the forests, and climb trees 

 readily, eating all kinds of vegetable food. Three species of the genus are 

 known, which are found only in Cuba and Jamaica. Just above these 

 animals is a white-breasted trogon (Prionoteles temnurus), confined to Cuba, 

 and the only species of the genus. Near the top of the picture are a pair 

 of todies (Todus multicolor), singular little insectiverous birds allied to the 

 motmots, but forming a very distinct family VN/'hieh is confined to the islands 

 of the Greater Antilles. They are beautifully-colored birds — green above, 

 red and white beneath, and are exceedingly active in their movements. To 

 the right are a pair of small humming-birds (Sporadinus ricordi), not very 

 remarkable in this beautiful family, but introduced here because they be- 

 long to a genus which is confined to the the Greater Antilles. * * 



The Nearctic Eegion consists almost wholly of Temperate North Amer- 

 ica as defined by physical geographers. In area it is about equal to the Neo- 

 troi^ical region. It possesses a vast mountain range traversing its entire 

 length from north to south, comparable with, and in fact a continuation of, 

 the Andes — and a smaller range near the east coast, equally comparable 

 with the mountains of Brazil and Guiana. These mountains supj^lj^ its 

 great river system of the Mississippi, second only to that of the Amazon; 

 and in its vast group of fresh-water lakes or inland seas, it possesses a fea- 

 ture unmatched by any other region, except perhaps by the Ethiopian. It 

 possesses every variety of climate between arctic and tropical; extensive 

 forests and vast prairies; a greatly varied surface and a rich and beautiful 

 flora. But these great advantages are somewhat neutralized by other phys- 

 ical features. It extends far towards the north, and there it reaches its 

 greatest width; while in its southern and warmest portion it suddenly nar- 



