HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL 



the presence in its eastern portion of the Lion, Leopard, and other 

 large members of the Felidse, show the transitional character of this 

 Sub-region. Among Birds, the genera Pastor*, TJpupa, Turnix, Gyps and 

 Vultur maybe cited as characteristic, while among Reptiles and Amphibians 

 are several peculiar and interesting forms. Thais and Doritis, two im- 

 portant genera of Butterflies, are peculiar to this Sub-region, which is also 

 very rich in certain families of Beetles, such as Garabidse, Buprestidse, and 

 Tenebrionidse. 



Siberian Sub-region. — This area, in spite of its extreme and unsettled 

 climate, possesses representatives of 94 families of terrestrial Vertebrates, a 

 number slightly in excess of that of the neighbouring European Sub- 

 region. Four genera of Mammals are peculiar, of which Poephagus (the 

 Yak) is the most familiar, the others being a Mole and two Antelopes. 

 Moschus (Musk Deer) is almost confined to this sub-region, but ranges also 

 into the Oriental Region, while the genera Mustela, Gulo (Glutton), Rangifer 

 (Reindeer), and Myodes (Lemming), are characteristic of the far north. 

 One of the most interesting members of the Siberian fauna is the Seal 

 (Phoca sibirica) which inhabits the great fresh-water lake Baikal. The 

 avifauna of this sub-region is akin to that of Europe, and there are very 

 few peculiar forms ; while the insects in general have also a decidedly 

 European facies. The genus Parnassius, among Butterflies, is very 

 characteristic. 



Manchurian Sub-region. — This sub-region has a rich and varied fauna, 

 with representatives of 102 families of terrestrial Vertebrates. At least 

 a dozen genera of Mammals are peculiar, including the interesting forms 

 known as Rhinopithecus (Tibetan Langur), Ailuropus (Great Panda), 

 Nyctereutes (family Ganidse), ffydropotes (Chinese Water-Deer), and Elapjlwdus 

 (Tufted Deer). The avifauna is extremely rich, partly owing to the 

 intermingling of Palsearctic and Oriental types in the south-western 

 portion. But the most characteristic birds are the Pheasants, of which 

 several remarkably fine genera attain their greatest development in this 

 Sub-region. The Butterflies also partake largely of an Oriental character, 

 several handsome species being peculiar, and many truly tropical genera 

 (such as Mycalesis and Terias) occurring well within the limits of the area. 



Number of Families of terrestrial Vertebrates in the Palaearctic 

 Region and its Four Sub-regions. 1 





Mammals. 



Birds. 



Reptiles. 



Amphibians. 



Total. 



Pal^iakctic Eegion in Geneeal 



33 



68 



24 



10 



135 



European Sub-region 

 Mediterranean ,, 

 Siberian ,, 

 Manchurian ,, 



20 

 30 

 22 

 23 



53 

 62 

 55 



57 



6 

 20 

 11 

 15 



6 



8 

 6 



7 



85 

 120 



94 

 102 



No 



peculiar 



Families 









II. THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 



Extent. — The Ethiopian Region is easily defined. It consists of the 

 whole of Africa and Arabia south of the Tropic of Cancer, together with 

 Madagascar and the small islands adjacent. 



Sub-regions.— Four sub-regions are recognised, as follows:— (1) East 

 African; (2) West African; (3) South African; and (4) Malagasy. Taken 

 in reverse order, the Malagasy Sub-region includes Madagascar, Reunion, 

 Mauritius, Rodriguez, the Seychelles, and the Comoro and neighbouring 

 islands. The South African Sub-region comprises the southern portion of 

 the continent, from the Cape northwards to Walfish Bay on the west and 

 the Limpopo River on the east, together with a narrow strip of coast- 

 land running up as far as Mozambique. The West African Sub-region 

 consists of most of the great African forest region, from the River 

 Gambia eastwards to beyond Lake Chad, and southwards to embrace the 

 watershed of the Congo. All the rest of tropical Africa and tropical Arabia 

 are included in the great Fast African Sub-region. 



Physical Features. — Since nearly the whole of the Ethiopian Region lies 

 between the Tropics, the conditions of life are much more uniform than is 

 the case in the Palsearctic and other regions. The whole coast-line of Africa, 

 too, is remarkably free from deep indentations, while there is an absence of 

 extensive mountain ranges, such as are met with in other continents. The 

 southern and eastern portions of the region are characterised by extensive 

 plateaux, which run quite close up to the coast, and in the southern half 

 have an average elevation of nearly 4000 feet. The most important 

 mountain ranges in the Ethiopian Region run up the eastern half, and here 

 also we find most of the great African lakes. In the north of the region is 

 the great Sahara, the most extensive continuous desert in the world. This 

 forms a most effective barrier between the regions (Palaearctic and Ethiopian) 

 which it separates, and hence the faunas north and south of it are remark- 

 ably distinct. South of this we have a great region of luxuriant tropical 

 forest, with an abundant and very distinct fauna, which serves as a basis 

 for the separation of a "West African" Sub-region. South of this again 

 are the Kalahari and Damara Land desert regions, while beyond the 

 Southern Tropic is the " South African " Sub-region, with a fairly temperate 

 climate and a wonderfully rich flora. The eastern portion of the continent 

 is largely a region of savannas and grass-land, of a uniform character. 

 Lastly, the island of Madagascar is sufficiently distinct, both geographically 

 and zoologically, to require separate description. Cut off as it is from the 

 mainland by a very deep channel, and characterised by a very peculiar 

 fauna, this interesting island has been the subject of much investigation 



1 For the purpose of comparison it may be stated that the total number of known 

 families of terrestrial Vertebrates is as follows :— Mammals, 82; Birds 148- Reptiles 52- 

 Amphibians, 24 ; making a total of 306. ' ' 



and speculation on the part of naturalists. Some authors maintain that it 

 at one time formed part of a direct land-connection between South Africa 

 and India, and that this area was submerged and the remains left as islands 

 in early tertiary times. As seen in Plate 2, Lydekker regards Madagascar 

 and the neighbouring islands as a distinct region, and there is indeed much 

 justification for such a conclusion. 



Zoological Characteristics. — The fauna of the Ethiopian Region is rich 

 varied, and well-marked. No fewer than 161 families of terrestrial Verte- 

 brates are represented, which number exceeds that of any other zo6»eo- 

 graphical region. Of these, 30 are peculiar and may be here enumerated : 



Mammals (12.) 



Chiromyidse (Aye-Aye). 

 Ghrysochloridse. (Golden Moles). 

 Gentetidse (Tenrecs). 

 Potamogalidse (Potamogale). 

 Protelidee (Earth Wolf). 

 Bathyergidse (African Mole-Rats). 

 Lophiomyidse (Crested Rats). 



Birds 



Promeropidse (Promerops). 

 Aerocharidse (Helmet-Bird). 

 Vangidse. 

 Philepittidse. 



Musophagidse (Plantain Eaters). 

 Leptosomatidse (Kiroumbos). 

 Irrisoridse (Wood-Hoopoes). 



Pedetidse (African Jumping Hares). 

 Anomaluridse (African Fly ins 



Squirrels). 

 Giraffidse (Giraffes and Okapi). 

 Hippopotamidse (Hippopotamus). 

 Orycteropodidse (Aard-Varks). 



(13.) 



Coliidse (Colies). 



Serpentariidse (Secretary-Birds). 



Scopidse (Hammer-Head). 



Balsenicipitidse (Whale-Head). 



Mescenatidse. 



Nnmididse (Guinea-Fowls). 



Reptiles (4.] 



Rhachiodontidse (Egg-eating Snake). 

 Gerrhosauridse. 



Zonuridse (Girdled Lizards). 

 Uroplatidse. 



Amphibians (1.) 

 Daclylethridse (Clawed Toads). 



The Siruthionidse (Ostriches), may also be regarded as practically peculiar 

 since elsewhere these birds only occur in Arabia and Syria (in the Palae- 

 arctic Region). 



In addition to these families, a large number of important genera are 

 confined to this region, among which may be mentioned Anthropopithecus 

 (Chimpanzee), Gorilla (Gorilla), many Lemurs, the Monkeys of the genera 

 Colobus and Cercopithecus, Lycaon (Cape Hunting Dog), Potamochcerus 

 (River Hogs), and many others. The various species of Zebra and a large 

 number of Antelopes are also peculiar and important. Of the families 

 which range also beyond the limits of the Ethiopian Region, but which are 

 quite characteristic of it, the following are the most important : — Macroscelidse 

 (Elephant-Shrews), Ilysenidse (Hyaenas), Elephantidse (Elephants), Rhino- 

 cerotidse (Rhinoceroses), Procaviidse (Hyraces), Fquidee (Horses, &c), 

 Manidse (Pangolins) ; and among birds the Ploceidse (Weaver-Birds), 

 Nectariniidse (Sun-Birds), Zosteropidse (White-Eyes), Indicatoridse (Honey- 

 Guides), Gapitonidse (Barbets), Bucerotidse (Hornbills), and Siruthionidse 

 (Ostriches). 



There are no peculiarly Ethiopian families of Butterflies, but one, namely, 

 the Acrseidse, is highly characteristic, attaining in Africa its greatest 

 development. The Nymphalid genera Amauris and Fupheedra form good 

 examples of typical Ethiopian genera, while Charaxes and many others are 

 represented by a large number of handsome forms. 



Lastly, the entire absence of certain important families which are, 

 strangely enough, widely distributed in other regions of the Old World, 

 must be alluded to. Such are, among others, the Talpidse (Moles), Ursidse 

 (Bears), Gervidse (Deer, Goats and Sheep), Cinclidse (Dippers), and Trog- 

 lodytidse (Wrens). Since the climatic and other conditions are apparently 

 favourable to the existence of such groups, their entire absence must be 

 explained by the presence, throughout long periods, of barriers which have 

 effectually prevented the migration of these animals into the great Ethiopian 

 continent. 



East African Sub-region. — Of the 145 families of terrestrial Vertebrates 

 occurring in this area, only two are peculiar, namely, the Lophiomyidse 

 (Crested Rats) among Mammals, and the Balsenicipitidse (Whale-Head) 

 among birds. Both these groups are small ones, containing only three and 

 one species respectively. Certain large and familiar Mammals, though not 

 absolutely confined to the sub-region, are nevertheless highly characteristic 

 of it, and in this category may be placed the Giraffes, Zebras, and the African 

 Rhinoceroses. Although covering an immense extent of country, this 

 section of the Ethiopian Region has little of a special nature to characterise 

 it, beyond the possession of the ordinary African types. 



West African Sub-region. — This sub-region has no peculiar families of 

 terrestrial Vertebrates, although representatives of 134 occur within its 

 limits. The most characteristic Mammals are the Gorilla and the Chim- 

 panzee ; the Monkeys known as Mangabeys (Gercocebus) ; the Pottos 

 (Perodiclicus) ; the Insectivore known as Potamogale ; the Water Chevrotain 

 (Ifyomoschus) ; the African Flying Squirrels (Anomalurus) ; and the inter- 

 esting and recently-discovered Okapi (Okapia johnstoni). Among Birds, 

 the most interesting species is Pitta angolensis, the sole Ethiopian member 

 of the Pittidse, a family which is essentially Oriental and Australian in 

 distribution. Characteristic Butterflies are those of the genera Etiphsedra 

 and Elymnias, but the latter is also Oriental. 



South African Sub-region. — Representatives of 133 families of terres- 

 trial Vertebrates occur in this area, one of which, the Promeropidse (Birds 

 allied to the Sun-Birds or Nectariniidse), is peculiar. The Ghrysochloridse 

 (Golden Moles), Macroscelidse (Elephant Shrews), Protelidse (Earth Wolf), 

 Bathyergidse (African Mole Rats), Pedetidse (African Jumping Hares), and 

 Orycteropodidse. (Aard-Varks), are all very characteristic groups of Mammals, 



