53 



of lemur there and especially one nnspecialized or 

 primitive type. Some of the islands of this neigh- 

 borhood have seen a number of old fashioned birds 

 become extinct within the last few centuries. 



Characteristic Oriental Animals. — Of the many large 

 forms to be found in the Oriental region, including 

 the elephant, tiger, lion, etc., there are shown the 

 Indian rhinoceros and Malay tapir. That the so- 

 called horn of the former is structually simply a com- 

 pact mass of hairs does not seem to be generally 

 known. With it he roots up trees. It is from the 

 jungle fowl of this region that our common domestic 

 fowl comes, as well as our peacock and the fancy 

 pheasants. The region abounds in beautiful birds 

 and butterflies. 



Characteristic Eurasian Animals. — Notwithstanding 

 the enormous land area included in this realm, the 

 majority of its plants and animals are identical 

 throughout. Not only that, but there is so great 

 similarity between the fauna of this region and the 

 North Americau realm that they are often united into 

 one. Though this region has few peculiar forms at 

 present, in comparatively recent geological times it 

 was the home of many of the huge animals or their 

 ancestors, that characterize the African and Oriental 

 realms. The camels, of which one is shown, belong 



