488 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
Chatham and Auckland Islands was much later than with Australia.” And 
then he goes on to say:—‘‘The distribution of Anguilla latirostris, which is 
not found nearer than China (and of A. obscura, a closely allied species, 
_ which occurs in the Fiji Islands), adds its testimony to that of Lotella and 
Ditrema (other species named by him), of a former connection with that part 
of the world, not by way of Australia; and we shall find that this remark- 
able connection with China and the Indian Archipelago, thus dimly shadowed 
out by the fishes, gets stronger and stronger as we review the invertebrate 
animals.” 
The examination of these lower forms leads to the same general con- 
clusions—a strong relationship on one hand with Australia, and a similar, 
but distinct, relationship with islands and countries to the north. 
In summarizing the facts of the geographical distribution of the fauna, 
the following results are arrived at by him:—1. “A continental period 
_ during which South America, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa 
were all connected, although it is not necessary that all should have been 
connected at the same time, but New Zealand must have been isolated from 
all before the spread of mammals, and from that time to the present it 
has never been completely submerged. This continent was inhabited by 
struthious birds,” etc., etc. 
2. After a period of subsidence, a second continent came into existence, 
‘* stretching from New Zealand to Lord Howe’s Island and New Caledonia, 
and extending for an unknown distance into Polynesia, but certainly not s0 
far as the Sandwich Islands.” And while this continent was co 
with China either directly or by a chain of islands, it must have been out 
off the New Hebrides by a strait. 
3. ‘Subsidence again followed, and New Zealand was eel | for & 
long time to a number of islands, upon many of which the moa lived.” 
This supposition is necessary to account for the number of species of 
Dinornis which formerly existed, as the birds must have been ‘ « isolated 
from one another for a sufficiently long period to allow of specific changes 
being brought about.” 
4. Elevation ensued, the isolated islands became connected together 
into one large island, which was not however connected with Polynesi@, 
and over which the various species of moa roamed. And lastly, 
5. By a process of subsidence the islands assumed something coe 
present form. 
Tie theory 308 most ingenious recta a eines 
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