240 
ISLAND LIFE. 
[rART 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 . 1 — 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 
