560 



MR. F. DAT ON THE GEOGEAPHTCAL 



If we tabulate the 369 Indian freshwater species in the same 

 manner, they will be found thus distributed : — 



Leaving out the question of the original home of the first parents 

 of these fishes, we may inquire, what element is now most apparent 

 amongst the Indian freshioater fishes, the African or Malayan ? A 

 single glance at the Tables will show that the Malayan element is 

 most developed. In short, we are unable to ascertain one single 

 genus which is solely African and Indian, as all the African forms 

 which, extend to India are either likewise present in the Palse- 

 arctic region, or else in the Malay archipelago, or in both. 



If we turn to the distribution of the species, we obtain the same 

 results. Out of 369 Indian or Burmese forms, 2 are likewise 

 African (not Malayan), but they are also Palsearctic ; 27 are com- 

 mon to India (including Burma) and the Malay archipelago ; 2 

 to botli Africa, India, and the Malay archipelago. 



How has the African element entered India proper^ ? I exclude 



1 Discognathus is also Paltearctic. 



2 Pristolepis fasciatus is Burmese, and not found in the Hindustan sub- 

 region. 



3 Out of these 7 species, 5 are found in Burma, but not in the Hindustan 

 subregion. 



* and 5 Both Palsearctic forms. 



^ Mr. Blanford considers there is evidence that in Northern and Central 

 India the fauna in the later Tertiary times was more allied to that now exist- 

 ing in Africa than it is now^ — that this is shown by the presence of Hij^popoia- 

 mus, Camelopardalis, Loxodon, and a number of antilopine forms in the Plio- 

 cene fossil fauna of the .Sevalits &c., — and states his belief that the Vertebrata 

 had been in connexion with Africa: — first, forms common to the Oriental and 

 Ethiopian regions, the bulk of the present Indian fauna ; secondly, fox-ms 

 common to the Ethiopian region and India, but not extending to the eastward 

 of the Bay of Bengal, nor represented in S.W. Asia now lying in the direct line 

 between India and Africa ; thirdly, species with Ethiopian .ifTinities, which 

 may haye wandered into India from Arabia and Baluchistan. 



