408 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
summer and winter coat—for that is obvious—but also with 
particular districts.” * 
In the New Hebrides the soil of nearly all the islands consists 
of a “rich voleanic mould.” Pigs, Fowls, and Dogs are said to 
have been brought into the islands within the last one hundred 
years, and Capt. Cook has the credit of having introduced the 
first two. The Fowls have gone wild in the bush, and have 
* become small and of bantam-like appearance, and are generally 
of a brownish colour, with all white tail feathers.” | This is only 
approximate evidence; but more direct testimony is afforded by 
Mr. Lydekker, who states: ‘‘ The rich red soil of Devonshire is 
tenanted by a breed of cattle readily distinguished by the deep 
red colour of their hair.” ~ According to the same authority, in 
certain parts of America, the Falkland Islands, Australia, New 
Zealand, and other countries, the cattle introduced from Europe 
have run wild, and form vast herds. Those found in Texas and 
on the Argentine pampas have become of a nearly uniform dark 
brownish red colour; while in the Ladrone or Mariana Islands, 
in the Pacific Ocean, all the wild cattle are white with black 
ears.’ § It would be interesting to know the prevalent surface 
colour of the soil at Porto Santo, an island near Madeira. ‘To 
relate a well-known fact, in the year 1419 a few Rabbits born on 
board ship of a tame Spanish Rabbit were put on the island. The 
animals not only increased so enormously as to become a pest, 
but in the course of four hundred and fifty years have developed 
into a distinct variety or species, which is distinguished among 
other acquired peculiarities of structure and habits by a “‘ peculiar 
colour.” || Mr. Lydekker confirms this statement, and states 
that the descendants of these Rabbits “‘ have now formed a breed 
distinguished by their small size, the reddish colour of the fur of 
the upper parts and the grey tints of that below. So different 
indeed are these Rabbits from the ordinary kind that the two 
kinds will not even breed together; and if the history of the 
Porto Santo race were not known, it would undoubtedly be re- 
* ‘Red Deer’ (Fur and Feather Series), p. 43. 
+ Somerville, ‘ Journ. Anthrop. Instit.,’ vol. xxiii. pp. 364, 390-1. 
t ‘Roy. Nat. Hist.,’ vol. ii. p. 170. 
§ Ibid. p. 172. 
| Haeckel, ‘ History Creation,’ Engl. transl. 4th edit., vol. i. p. 150. 
28 eee oS ee 
