50 MANUAL OF THE MOLLUSCA. 
CHAPTER II. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE MOLLUSCA. 
Ir is one of the most familiar facts in Natural History that 
many countries possess a distinct Fauna and Flora, or assem- 
‘blages of animals and plants peculiar to themselves; and it is 
equally true, though less generally understood, that the sea 
also has its provinces of animal and vegetable life. 
The most important or best known of these provinces are 
indicated on the accompanying map; different names, in some 
instances, and different letters and numbers, being employed to 
distinguish the marine from the terrestrial regions.* 
The division of the surface of the globe into natural history 
provinces ought to be framed upon the widest possible basis. 
The geographical distribution of every class of animals and 
plants should be considered in order to arrive at a theory of 
“universal application. 
The most philosophical division of tie globe into natural 
provinces has been by Swainson in 1835, al by Dr. Sclater in 
1857. The last has been adopted by several naturales It was 
based upon a consideration of the distribution of birds, and has 
been extended to fishes and amphibia by Dr. Ginther. It 
might be extended to mollusca. In Dr. Sclater’s scheme the 
world is divided into six regions, viz. (1) Palzearctic region: 
this comprises Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, Persia, Asia 
north of the Himalayas, North China, and Japan; (2) Ethiopian 
or Western Palzeotropical region, includes Africa south of the 
Atlas, Madagascar, Mascarene, Arabia; (3) Indian or Middle 
Palzeotropical region, including Asia south of the Himalayas, 
Ceylon, Burmah, Malacca, Southern China, Philippines, Borneo, 
Java, Sumatra, and adjacent islands; (4) Australian or Western 
Paleeotropical region: Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, 
and the Pacific Islands ; ; (5) Nearctic or North American region: 
Greenland, and North onevien as far as the centre of nee ; 
* The author regrets that, on account of the expense, this map appears without the 
advantage of colours. He would recommend those who are sufficiently interested in 
the subject to colour their own copies, distinguishing the shores of the marine provinces 
by the following tints :— 
Blue. 1. Arctic province; 15. Magellanic. 
Green. 2. Boreal; 11. Aleutian; 5. Aralo-Caspian. 
Orange. 3. Celtic. 
Purple. 4. Lusitanian; 10. Japonic; 12. Californian; 1.8. Vrans-Anainue. 
Yellow. 6. W. African; 8. Indo-Pacific; 13. Panamic; 17. Caribbean. 
fate. 7.8. African; 9, Australo-Zealandic; 14, Peruvian; 16. Patagonian. 
