CH. IV] PHYSICAL FEATURES OF NEW ZEALAND. 199 



tribution in the archipelago; it occurs in no less than 

 eight islands. The specimens were submitted to a rigid 

 scrutiny to discover whether they could be referred to 

 distinct races, but the most that can be said apparently is 

 that " there is a distinct tendency toward the formation of 

 races." On the other hand another species of the same 

 genus — 8. literosa — which occurs in three islands, can be 

 separated into as many races. 



The Fauna of New Zealand. 



The fauna of New Zealand has been so abundantly 

 investigated through the labours of Capt. Hutton and 

 others, that it is one of the best known quarters of the 

 globe. . 



It willlbe well to preface our account of this fauna by 

 a brief sketch of the physical features of the island and 

 the surrounding ocean. The name New Zealand is 

 applied to two priDcipal islands which are together 

 " about as large as the kingdom of Italy." Their climate 

 is mild and equable, while the vegetation is luxuriant and 

 there are no deserts such as occur in Australia. The two 

 islands lie upbn an extensive plateau, where the water is 

 not more than 1000 fathoms deep ; a prolongation of this 

 submarine plateau runs out and joins New Caledonia to 

 the north, whence it is continued on to the Australian 

 continent ; another spur runs out so as to embrace Lord 

 Howe Island ; , elsewhere a depth of over 2000 fathoms 

 divides New Zealand from Australia. Its distance from 

 Australia is about 1200 miles. The geological structure 



