1 877-] 
A nimal Geography.. 
63 
of animals since the post-pliocene times, and either just 
before or shortly after the appearance of man. This pheno- 
menon was apparently simultaneous in Europe and America, 
and will doubtless be traced in other quarters of the globe 
when their palaeontology has been more fully studied. 
Among the animals which have thus disappeared are some 
which seem to have been eminently qualified to “hold their 
own.” Such is the extindb genus Machairodon, or sabre- 
toothed tiger, several fossil species of which, apparently 
more formidable than any existing cat, have been found in 
both continents. 
Another very important conclusion is, that the theory of 
the independent origin and development of animal life in a 
number of distinct points can no longer be upheld. The 
great northern continents appear to have been the seat and 
birthplace of all the higher forms of life, whilst certain 
strange creatures — such as the gigantic fossil Edentata — 
seem to have originated in the south and to have gradually 
spread northwards. 
In one respedt we must own ourselves disappointed with 
Mr. Wallace’s book, although the author, in his Address 
delivered before the Biological Section of the British Asso- 
ciation at Glasgow, has done very much to supply the 
deficiency. We had expedted that the work would have 
contained a summary of fadts, and possibly some interesting 
generalisations on the influence of locality on the colour, 
the size, and the form of animal species. Every naturalist 
■ — save such, if they deserve the name, who confine their re- 
searches to books— -knows that the fauna of each country 
has a peculiar general physiognomy, more or less pro- 
nounced. These peculiarities are sometimes difficult to 
express in words, and may escape any but the most patient 
observer, but in other instances they are open and palpable. 
Thus, according to Mr. Goodman, there appear in the birds 
of the Azores modifications all tending towards a more 
sombre plumage, and a greater strength of feet, legs, and 
bill. Mr. Blanfora finds that Persian specimens are, on 
the average, paler in colour than their nearest allies in 
Europe. Mr. Wallace, in his Glasgow Address, remarks 
that it is “ in islands we find some of the most striking ex- 
amples of the influence of locality on colour, generally in 
the diredtion of paler, but sometimes of darker and more 
brilliant hues, and often accompanied by an unusual increase 
of size.” He then shows how the butterflies of certain 
genera, such as the Euplceas, are in the larger islands dark- 
coloured, whilst in Banda, Ke, and Matabello there are three 
