CHAP. XIX.] 
THE MADAGASCAR GROUP. 
409 
though totally distinct forms do exist in New Zealand, where 
enemies are equally wanting. On the other hand, every con- 
tinent has always produced abundance of carnivora adapted to 
prey upon the herbivorous animals inhabiting it at the same 
period ; and we may therefore be sure that these islands have 
never formed part of a continent during any portion of the time 
when the dodos inhabited them. 
It is a remarkable thing that an ornithologist of Dr. Hart- 
laub’s reputation, looking at the subject from a purely ornitho- 
logical point of view, should yet entirely ignore the evidence of 
these wonderful and unique birds against his own theory, when 
he so confidently characterises Lemuria as “ that sunken land 
which, containing parts of Africa, must have extended far east- 
ward over Southern India and Ceylon, and the highest points of 
which we recognise in the volcanic peaks of Bourbon and 
Mauritius, and in the central range of Madagascar itself — the 
last resorts of the mostly extinct Lemur ine race which formerly 
peopled it.” 1 It is here implied that lemurs formerly inhabited 
Bourbon and Mauritius, but of this there is not a particle of 
evidence, and we feel pretty sure that had they done so the 
dodos would never have been developed there. In Madagascar 
there are no traces of dodos, while there are remains of extinct 
gigantic struthious birds of the genus iEpyornis, which were no 
doubt as well able to protect themselves against the smaller 
carnivora as are the ostriches, emus, and cassowaries in their 
respective countries at the present day. 
The w’hole of the evidence at our command, therefore, tends to 
establish in a very complete manner the “ oceanic ” character of 
the three islands — Mauritius, Bourbon, and Rodriguez, and that 
they have never formed part of “ Lemuria,” or of any continent. 
Reptiles. — Mauritius, like Bourbon, has lizards, some of which 
are peculiar species ; hut no snakes, and no frogs or toads 
hut such as have been introduced . 2 Strange to say, however, a 
small islet called Round Island, only about a mile across, and 
1 See Ibis , 1877, p. 334. 
2 A common Indian and Malayan toad ( Bufo melanostictus) has been 
introduced into Mauritius and also some European toads, as I am informed 
by Dr. Gunther. 
