xii CONTENTS 



fresli- water crabs and their dispersal — The European element in 

 the fauna of Central America — On discontinuous distribution 

 of animals as a proof of their antiquity .... 233-260 



OHAPTEE XI 



THE WEST INDIAN ISLANDS AND THEIE INHABITANTS 



The geology of the Antilles — Palaeography as illustrated by the dis- 

 tribution of snails — Antiquity and dispersal of snails, their 

 relationship and European affinities — On the theory of the 

 ancient Atlantis — The problem of the supposed permanence of 

 ocean basins — The marine mammals of the Antilles and their 

 origin — Evidences iu favour of a mid-Atlantic land bridge — 

 The terrestrial mammals of the West Indian islands — Evidences 

 of former changes of level in the Antillean area — The blind 

 animals of Cuba — On the ancient Antillean continent . 261-294 



CHAPTER XII 



THE FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 



Darwin's visit to the islands and his views on the origin of their 

 animals and plants — On accidental dispersal — The birds, 

 tortoises and snails of the Galapagos islands — Origin of the 

 flora — Baur's criticisms of Darwin's views — ^Euphorbia and 

 its past history — Conclusions as to the origin of the Galapagos 

 fauna — The geological history of the Pacific Ocean — On the 

 supposed former Pacific continent — Mr. Guppy's researches — 

 Coral reefs and their history — A circum-Paoific land belt — 

 Evidences of ancient lands westward of Central America — On 

 faunistio affinities between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — 

 The Humboldt current ....... 295-335 



CHAPTER XIII 



THE ANIMALS OF THE NORTH --WESTEBN STATES OF SOUTH AMERICA 



The geological history of South America— The faunal elements of 

 the continent — Palaeontology— Course of development of the 

 continent during the Tertiary Era— Peripatus and its distribu- 

 tion in South America — On the origin of Clausilia and its 

 relations — The South American bear — On the tapirs and their 

 origin— The dwarf deer of South America — On the supposed 

 existence of former land connections — Derivation and history 

 of the fossil elephants — The river Amazon . . , 336-362 



