CHAPTER XXI 



ANOMALOUS ISLANDS : NEW ZEALAND 



Position and Physical Features of New Zealand — Zoological Character of 

 New Zealand — Mammalia — Wingless Birds Living and Extinct — Recent 

 Existence of the Moa — Past Changes of New Zealand deduced from 

 its Wingless Birds — Birds and Reptiles of New Zealand — Conclusions 

 from the Peculiarities of the New Zealand Fauna. 



The fauna of New Zealand has been so recently described, 

 and its bearing on the past history of the islands so fully 

 discussed in my large work already referred to, that it 

 would not be necessary to introduce the subject again, 

 were it not that we now approach it from a somewhat 

 different point of view, and with some important fresh 

 material, which will enable us to arrive at more definite 

 conclusions as to the nature and origin of this remarkable 

 fauna and flora. The present work is, besides, addressed 

 to a wider class of readers than my former volumes, and 

 it would be manifestly incomplete if all reference to one 

 of the most remarkable and interesting of insular faunas 

 was omitted. 



The two great islands which mainly constitute New 

 Zealand are together about as large as the kingdom of 

 Italy. They stretch over thirteen degrees of latitude in 

 the warmer portion of the south-temperate zone, their 

 extreme points corresponding to the latitudes of Vienna 

 and Cyprus. Their climate throughout is mild and 



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