240 



ISLAND LIFE. 



[part II. 



improbable that the Azores have ever been united with the 

 European continent ; while their being wholly volcanic * is 

 equally opposed to the view of their having formed part of an 

 extensive Atlantis including Madeira and the Canaries. The 

 only exception to their volcanic structure is the occurrence 

 in one small island only (Santa Maria) of some marine deposits 

 of Upper Miocene age — a fact which proves some alterations of 

 level, and perhaps a greater extension of this island at some 

 former period, but in no way indicates a former union of the 

 islands, or any greater extension of the whole group. It 

 proves, however, that the group is of considerable antiquity, 

 since it must date back to Miocene times ; and this fact may be 

 of importance in considering the origin and peculiar features of 

 the fauna and flora. It thus appears that in all physical 

 features the Azores correspond strictly with our definition of 

 "oceanic islands," while their great distance from any other 

 land, and the depth of the ocean around them, make them 

 typical examples of the class. We should therefore expect 

 them to be equally typical in their fauna and flora; and this is 

 the case as regards the most important characteristics, although 

 in some points of detail they present exceptional phenomena. 



Chief Zoological Features of the Azores} — The great feature 

 of oceanic islands — the absence of all indigenous land-mammalia 

 and amphibia — is well shown in this group ; and it is even 

 carried further, so as to include all terrestrial vertebrata, there 

 being no snake, lizard, frog, or fresh-water fish, although the 

 islands are sufficiently extensive, possess a mild and equable 

 climate, and are in every way adapted to support all these 

 groups. On the other hand, flying creatures, as birds and 

 insects, are abundant ; and there is also one flying mammal — a 

 small European bat. It is true that rabbits, weasels, rats and 

 mice, and a small lizard peculiar to Madeira and Teneriffe, are 

 now found wild in the Azores, but there is good reason to 

 believe that these have all been introduced by human agency. 



1 For most of the facts as to the zoology and botany of these islands, I 

 am indebted to Mr, Godman's valuable work — Natural History of the 

 Azores or Western Islands, by Frederick Du Cane Godman, F.L.S., 

 F.Z.S., &c., London, 1870 



