CHAPTER II. 



ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



In the preceding chapter a few of the more salient 

 facts in the distribution of animals have been detailed. 

 We can define an animal by its geographical position as 

 much as by its structure. It follows that the converse is 

 equally true ; each country has its own special inhabitants. 

 One tract of country can be defined by its fauna and flora 

 and thus distinguished from another tract of country. 



A passage across the Straits of Dover lands us in a 

 country which would seem at first sight to agree absolutely 

 with our own in its animal inhabitants; a prolonged 

 residence would however reveal the existence of a few 

 species of animals not met with in Great Britain; but 

 the general facies of the fauna would withstand the most 

 prolonged scrutiny with a view to detecting differences. 



We may journey across the entire continent of Europe 

 without leaving a fauna generally like that which we have 

 at home ; even the traveller in Japan will at once recog- 

 nize many animals which are either the same or very 

 closely allied to those with which he is familiar at home. 



