INTPtODUCTION. 1 5 



be said to belong to two zoological provinces. In spite of their powers 

 of locomotion, however, birds are limited by the necessities of their 

 life to definite areas, and a zoological province may be marked by 

 its birds just as well as by its quadrujjeds. 



The geographical distribution of an animal at the present day by 

 no means necessarily coincides with its former extension in space. 

 Many species are known which now occupy a much more restricted 

 area than they did formerly owing to changes in climate, the agency 

 of man, or other causes. Similarly, there are species whose present 

 area is much wider than it was originally. 



At the present day, naturalists usually adopt the arrangement of 

 the dry land into zoological provinces, which was originally proposed 

 by Mr Sclater. In this aiTangement the earth's surface is divided 

 into the following six provinces, each of which is characterised 

 partly by the presence of a particular "fauna," or characteristic 

 assemblage of animals, and partly by the absence of certain other 

 characteristic animals : — 



I. The Palcearctic Province, including Europe, Africa north of 

 the Atlas Mountains, and Northern Asia. Among the more charac- 

 teristic animals of this province are Bears, Sheep, Goats, Catarhine 

 Monkeys, and Pheasants. 



II. The Ethiopian Province, including Africa south of the Atlas 

 Mountains, and Southern Arabia. Among the more characteristic 

 animals are the African Elephant, the IIi])popotamus, Giraffe, 

 Hyrax, Aardvark, numerous Antelopes, Baboons, the Lion, and the 

 Ostrich. There is a characteristic absence of Bears, Deer, Goats, 

 and Sheep. 



III. The Oriental or Indian Province, including Asia south of the 

 Himalaya Mountains, Burmah, Siam, Southern China, and the In- 

 dian Archipelago (Java, Sumatra, Borneo, &c.) Characteristic ani- 

 mals are the Chevrotains, Indian Buffalo, Indian Elephant, Tiger, 

 Tlornbills, Pea-fowl, and Jungle-fowl. 



IV. The Australian Province, including Australia, Tasmania, New 

 Guinea, New Zealand, and most of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. 

 Characteristic animals are the Duck -mole and Spiny Ant-eater 

 (Echidna), numerous Marsupials, Birds of Paradise, Cockatoos, and 

 the Australian Mud-fish (Oeraiodus). There is a remarkable absence 

 of most orders of the Placental Mammals, of Vultures, Woodpeckers, 

 and Tailed Amphibians. New Zealand is peculiar in not having 

 any Marsupials nor Monotremes ; in having no Reptiles except 

 Lizards ; and in the possession of the curious Apteri/.v and the ex- 

 tinct Dinornis. 



V. The Nearctie Province, including North America down to the 

 centre of Mexico. Characteristic animals are the Prongbuck, the 



