8 



HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL 



first to draw attention to the remarkable distinctness of the faunas on either 

 side of this imaginary line, the boundary in question is often spoken of as 

 " Wallace's line." Among the widely-spread families whose distribution is 

 thus sharply limited, may be mentioned the Erinaceidse (Hedgehogs), 

 Mustelidse (Weasels, &c), Ursidse (Bears), Canidse (Dogs, Foxes, &c), 

 Leporidse (Hares and Rabbits), Troglodytidse (Wrens), Fringillidse (Finches), 

 Upupidse (Hoopoes), Viperidse (Vipers), Lacertidse (Typical Lizards), 

 Anguidse (Slow- Worms) and Cceciliidss. 



Number of Families of terrestrial Vertebrates in the Oriental 

 Region and its Four Sub-regions. 





Mammals. 



Birds. 



Reptiles. 



Amphibians. Total. 



Oriental Region in General 



Indian Sub-region 

 Ceylonese „ 

 Indo-Chinese „ 

 Indo-Malayan ,, 



37(4)' 



27 

 27 

 33 

 32(1) 



76(1) 



69 

 67 

 70 

 69 



30 (5) 



23(1) 

 23 (1) 

 25(1) 

 25 (1) 



10 



4 



5 



10 



6 



153 (10) 



123 (1) 



122 (1) 

 138 (1) 

 132 (2) 



1 The figures within parentheses indicate the number of peculiar families. 



IV. THE AUSTRALIAN REGION. 



Extent. — This region includes the whole of Australia, New Zealand, 

 New Guinea, the Moluccas and neighbouring islands, and practically the 

 whole of the islands in the Pacific Ocean. Its boundary on the west is a 

 line drawn between the islands of Bali and Lombok (Wallace's line), thence 

 to the east of Celebes and the Philippine Islands, and just to the west of 

 the Pelew and Ladrone Islands. The line then runs due eastwards along 

 the Tropic of Cancer to include the Sandwich Islands, thence in a south- 

 easterly direction as far as the Low Archipelago, and finally curves round 

 to the south of New Zealand and the Auckland Islands, Tasmania and 

 Australia. 



The island of Celebes has always proved a difficulty, chiefly on account 

 of the number of peculiar forms which it possesses. It bears a close 

 relationship to both the Oriental and the Australian Regions, and although 

 originally placed by Wallace in the latter, it is often considered at the 

 present day as a separate sub-region of the Oriental. 



Sub-regions. — The four Sub-regions are as follows: — (1) Austro- 

 Malayan; (2) Australian; (3) Polynesian; and (4) New Zealand. The 

 Austro-Malayan Sub-region comprises all the islands of the Malay Archi- 

 pelago not included in the Oriental Region, together with New Guinea, the 

 Moluccas, and the Solomon Islands. The Australian Sub-region consists 

 of the whole of Australia and Tasmania ; while New Zealand, Lord Howe 

 Island, Norfolk Island, the Kermadec, Chatham, Auckland, Campbell and 

 Macquarie Islands constitute the New Zealand Sub-region. Finally, all 

 the remaining islands of Polynesia, as far north as the Tropic of Cancer, and 

 including the Sandwich Islands, are embraced in the Polynesian Sub- 

 region. 



Physical Features.— This region is essentially one of islands, with only 

 three land-masses of any considerable extent, viz. : — Australia, New Guinea 

 and New Zealand. The first of these is characterised by a peculiar climate 

 and, coupled with this, a very remarkable fauna. This may be accounted 

 for by its great isolation, for it is surrounded on nearly all sides by 

 thousands of miles of ocean, and only on the north-west is there any adjacent 

 land suggesting a former connection with other continental areas. A great 

 portion of the interior of this island-continent consists of arid plain and 

 desert, the most fertile temperate region lying in the east and south-east. 

 The northern portion is entirely tropical, with a heavy rainfall, but with 

 this exception the climate of the whole area is peculiarly arid and the 

 rainfall very irregular. As a contrast to this, most of the islands of the 

 Austro-Malayan Sub-region are covered with luxuriant tropical forest, with 

 a rich and varied fauna. In the south-western islands, however {e.g. 

 Flores and Timor), the conditions approach those of Australia. The 

 numerous scattered islands of the Polynesian Sub-region may be roughly 

 grouped into two classes, volcanic islands and atolls. The former usually 

 rise to a high elevation and are clothed with rich forests, while the latter 

 are remarkably low, desolate and almost devoid of both fauna and flora. 

 New Zealand, the last area to be considered, possesses a temperate and 

 equable climate, with a backbone of high mountain ranges and numerous 

 fine rivers, due to an abundant rainfall. The fauna is deficient, especially as 

 regards the higher forms of life, but such creatures as there are, claim 

 attention through their interesting and highly peculiar nature. 



Zoological Characteristics.— This very distinct region possesses repre- 

 sentatives of 134 families of terrestrial Vertebrates, no fewer than 30 of 

 which are peculiar, including eight of Mammals, 17 of Birds 3 of 

 Reptiles, and 2 of Amphibians. The peculiar families of Mammals com- 

 prise the whole order Monotremata and most of the Marsupialia the 

 remaining families of the latter being the Didelphidse (Opossums), confined 

 to the Neotropical and the southern portion of the Nearctic Regions and 

 the small group known as Csenolestidse (Opossum Rats), confined to a small 

 area in the Neotropical Region. The complete list of peculiar families in 

 the Australian Region is as follows : 



Mammals. 



Macropodidse (Kangaroos). 

 Phalangeridee (Phalangers). 

 Phascolomyidse (Wombats). 

 Peramelidse (Bandicoots). 



Notoryctidse (Marsupial Mole). 

 Dasyuridse (Dasyures). 

 Echidnidse (Spiny Ant-eaters). 

 Ornithorhynchidse (Duck-Bills). 



Birds. 



Paradiseidse (Birds of Paradise). 

 Ptilonorhynchidse (Bower-Birds). 

 Meliphagidse (Honey-Eaters). 

 Drepanididse (Drepanis). 

 Atrichomithidse (Scrub-Birds). 

 Xenicidse. 



Menuridse (Lyre-Birds). 

 Nestoridse (Nestor-Parrots). 

 Loriidse (Lories). 



Cyclopsittacidse. 

 Stringopid&e (Owl-Parrots). 

 Rhinochsetidse (Kagu). 

 Gouridse (Crowned Pigeons). 

 Didunculidse (Tooth-billed Pigeon). 

 Apterygidse (Kiwis). 

 Dromseidse (Emus). 

 Casuariidse (Cassowaries). 



Eeptiles. 



Pygopodidse (Scale-footed Lizards). Hatteriidse (Tuatera). 



Carettochelydidse (Fly- River Turtle). 



Amphibians. 



C eratobatrachidse. 



Genyophrynidse. 



Besides these, the following families are highly characteristic: the 

 Dicseidse (Honey -Peckers), Gampophagidse (Cuckoo-Shrikes), Podarqidse 

 (Frog-Mouths), Cacatuidse (Cockatoos), Megapodidse (Megapodes), Chelydidse 

 (Side-necked Tortoises), and Cystignaihidse. 



The region is also characterised almost as much by the absence of 

 certain important groups as by those which are present and peculiar. Thus 

 there are few Mammals except Marsupials and Monotremes, the other Orders 

 being represented by some Bats and small Rodents, and one or two odd 

 species which just enter the Region over the Oriental boundary. Apes and 

 Monkeys, Insectivores, Carnivores, Ungulates, and Edentates may be 

 regarded, therefore, as practically absent. Among Birds, the Fringillidse 

 (Finches), Emberizidse (Buntings), and Picidse (Woodpeckers) are absent 

 as are also the Reptilian families Viperidse ( Vipers), and Lacertidse (Typical 

 Lizards). 



The fauna of this region, as a whole, is thus seen to be very peculiar and 

 distinct, and there is no little justification for the raising of Wallace's 

 Region and Sub-regions respectively to higher rank, as has been done by 

 Heilprin, Lydekker, and others (vide supra and Plate 2). 



Austro-Malayan Sub-region. — In this insular sub-region there are 113 

 families of terrestrial Vertebrates, of which four are peculiar. These are the 

 Gouridse (Crowned Pigeons) and the Carettochelydidse (Fly-River Turtle) 

 both confined to New Guinea, and two little-known Amphibian families 

 C eratobatrachidse and Genyophrynidse from the Solomon Islands and Sudest 

 Island respectively. Moreover, since most of this area consists of com- 

 paratively small islands, a large number of peculiar genera and species exist, 

 especially when the exceptionally interesting island Celebes is included. In 

 New Guinea three Marsupial genera are peculiar ; as are also in Celebes the 

 Black Ape (Gynopithectis niger), and the Anoa (Anoa depressicornis). The 

 Babirussa (Babirussa babirussa) is another remarkable and peculiar member 

 of the Austro-Malayan fauna, occurring in Celebes, Buru, and the Sulu 

 Islands. Among Birds, the families Paradiseidse (Birds of Paradise), 

 Ptilonorhynchidse (Bower-Birds), Meliphagidse (Honey-Eaters), Zosteropidse 

 (White-eyes), Podargidse (Frog-mouths), Loriidse (Lories), Cyclopsittacidse, 

 Megapodidse (Megapodes), and Casuariidse (Cassowaries), attain their highest 

 development in this area, while the families Dicseidse (Honey-Peckers), 

 Gampophagidse (Cuckoo-Shrikes), Muscicapidse (Fly-Catchers), Pittidse 

 (Pittas) and Treronidse (Fruit-Pigeons) are very numerously represented. 

 Lastly, in New Guinea and the neighbouring islands, the Amphibian families 

 Engystomatidse (Narrow-mouthed Toads) and Hylidse (Tree-Frogs) are 

 characteristic. 



Australian Sub-region. — In this Sub-region 98 families of terrestrial 

 vertebrates are represented, namely 15 of Mammals, 67 of Birds, 13 of Reptiles, 

 and three of Amphibians. Of these, some half-dozen are confined to this 

 area, as follows : — Phascolomyidse (Wombats), Notoryctidse (Marsupial Mole), 

 Ornithorhynchidse (Duck-Bills), Atrichomithidse (Scrub-Birds), Menuridse 

 (Lyre-Birds), and Dromseidse (Emus). This area is notable as being the 

 great home of the Marsupials, for out of 41 known genera 34 are represented 

 and 24 absolutely confined to it. The avifauna too, is highly peculiar, for 

 although only three families are confined to the Sub-region, yet the pro- 

 portion of peculiar species is larger than in any other Sub-region in any part 

 of the world. 



The characteristic, but not peculiar, families are the Macropodidse 

 (Kangaroos), Peramelidse (Bandicoots), Dasyuridse (Thylacine, &c), Ptilono- 

 rhynchidse (Bower-Birds), Meliphagidse (Honey-Eaters), Certhiidse (Creepers), 

 Artamidse (Swallow-Shrikes), Cacatuidse (Cockatoos), Tumicidse (Bustard- 

 Quails), Elapidse (Cobras, &c), Pygopodidse (Scale-footed Lizards), Varanid&e 

 (Monitors), Chelydidse (Side-necked Tortoises), and Cystignaihidse. The 

 Elapidse form about two-thirds of all the Snakes found in Australia, and all 

 of them are poisonous, so that the absence of Vipers ( Viperidse) and Rattle- 

 snakes (Grotalidse) is, unfortunately for the country, more than compen- 

 sated for. Lastly, the entire absence of all tailed Amphibians (Newts, &c.) 

 is noteworthy. 



Polynesian Sub-r-eg 'ion. —In this Sub-region, made up as it is entirely 

 of small islands, the absence of certain forms is probably to be regarded as 

 more characteristic than is the presence of the few peculiar ones which are 

 mentioned below. The families of terrestrial Vertebrates represented in 

 this great oceanic area only number 53. Of these, 3 are of Bats and 37 of 

 Birds, whose occurrence in these remote islands is probably due to their 

 superior powers of dispersal. Of Reptiles 9 families occur, and of 

 Amphibians only 2, both of which are confined to a single group of 

 islands. The other two families are the Muridse (Mice), and the Cervidse 

 (Deer). Of the latter a single species occurs in the Ladrone Islands. 



The families peculiar to the Polynesian Sub-region are the following :— 

 the Drepanididse, confined to the Sandwich Islands; the Rhinochsetidse 

 (Kagu), only found in New Caledonia ; and the Didunculidse (Tooth-billed 

 Pigeon), confined to Samoa. 



