94 Hypothetical Continents. 



At present., the miocene Atlantis theory has received no 

 confirmation from students of physical geology ; we have no 

 evidence of such vast changes in the physical features of the 

 Atlantic having taken place since so recent a date * as the 

 miocene.* On the other hand, the modifications of it which I 

 have just enunciated are well sustained by known geological, 

 as well as palseontological data. 



In studying the distribution of the cretaceous and num- 

 mulitic strata of the Old World, one cannot avoid remarking 

 their persistent east and west extension, in temperate and 

 northern sub-tropical regions. We thus find them occurring 

 in southern Europe from Portugal to the Black Sea ; and, in 

 Asia, from Asia Minor as far east as geological researches have 

 been made. These and other facts, especially the east and 

 west direction of the lines of volcanic disturbance of the same 

 periods, induced Mr. Searles Wood, jun., to promulgate, in 

 1862,t his view of a land- connection between America and the 

 then existing Buropeo-Asiatic continents at the close of the 

 cretaceous period and the dawn of the tei'tiary. We have seen 

 that this hypothesis accords remarkably well with one section 

 of the paleeontological facts which it is our endeavour to 

 explain ; it now remains for me to show that other phenomena 

 can likewise be explained by the same theory. 



I have already stated, in general terms, the grounds on 

 which Dr. Sclater was led to promulgate his theory of the 

 ancient continent Lemuria. As instances of the peculiarities 

 in the fauna of Madagascar, sought to be accounted for by this 

 " hypothetical continent," I may mention, quoting Dr. Sclater, J 

 that the Insectivora of that island are most nearly allied to the 

 American genus Solenodon; that the frugivorous bats of 

 Madagascar belong to the Indian section of the group, and not 

 to the African; and that certain American forms of serpents 

 and of insects are also found in Madagascar, while the charac- 

 teristic members of the African fauna are entirely absent from 

 the island. Dr. Sclater also states that the lemurs of Africa 

 are abnormal when compared with those of Madagascar ; but 

 that those of India appear to form in some respects an inter- 

 mediate group. The theory he has proposed, does therefore 

 account for the facts he wished to explain; but the question 

 to be solved is its admissibility on other grounds. 



In the proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1863, Mr. 

 H. W. Bates gave an analysis of the affinities of eleven families 

 of the coleoptera and lepidoptera of Madagascar, and referred 

 also to Dr. HartlauVs analysis of the birds. The general 



* See Lyell's Elements, 6th Edition, p. 267. 



t Phil. Mag., 4th Ser., vol. xxiii. p. 277. 



% Quarterly Journal of Science, Ko. 2, pp. 213, et seq. 



