On the Geological Distribution of Marine Animals. 311 



Charitable Mechanics' Association. The enlightened libe- 

 rality of the directors of this association is only equalled by 

 the generous and efficient co-operation of the officers of the 

 Bunker Hill Monument Association. — {Proceedings of the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science.) 



On the Geological Distribution of Marine Animals. By 

 Professor Edward Forbes. 



Professor Forbes, in his Map of the Geological Distribution 

 of Marine Life, and on the Homoiozoic Belts, shews the pro- 

 vinces under which animals and vegetables are assembled, 

 and these provinces are delineated so as to shew their pecu- 

 liarities, relations, and contrasts. The character of each is 

 marked by the entire assemblage of organised beings, consti- 

 tuting its population, a considerable portion in most cases 

 being peculiar, and a still larger number of species having 

 their areas of maximum development within it. The several 

 provinces vary greatly in extent, some being very small and 

 some very large. The northern and southern limits of each 

 province correspond with the boundaries of a latitudinal belt, 

 to which, on account of similarity of organic features, pre- 

 sented through its extension, the name of Homoiozoic is pro- 

 posed to be applied. Nine of these belts are distinguished, 

 of which one is unique, central, and equatorial, and four in 

 the northern hemisphere represent as many in the southern. 

 The boundaries of the belts on land appear to correspond with 

 the isotherm of^the months in which there is the greatest 

 vivacity of animal and vegetable life. The Homoiozoic belts 

 are not of equal breadth in all parts; the polar belts include only 

 a single province in each, the other severally include many 

 provinces. There are twenty-five provinces. 1. Arctic; 2. 

 Boreal; 3. Celtic; 4. Lusitanian ; 5. Mediterranean ; 6. West 

 African; 7. South African; 8. Indo Pacific; 9. Australian ; 10. 

 Japonian ; 11. Mantchourian ; 12. Ochotyian ; 13 Sitchian ; 

 14. Oregonian ; 15. Californian ; 16. Panamian; 17. Peruvian ; 

 18. Araucanian ; 19. Fuegian ; 20. Antarctic ; 21. East Pata- 

 gonian ; 22. Urugavian; 23. Caribbean; 24. Carolinian; 25. 



