DISTRIB U TION. 
9 
and subtropical zones are the real home of the reptilian type, which there has 
reached its greatest development as regards size and variety of forms. In the 
north, Chelonians advance only to 50° latitude in the Western and to 56° in the 
Eastern Hemisphere; lizards to about 56° in British Columbia, and close to the 
Arctic Circle in Europe; while snakes disappear some degrees before the lizards. 
Also in the south, lizards extend into higher latitudes than snakes, namely, to the 
Straits of Magellan, whilst the latter do not seem to have advanced beyond 40° 
south latitude, and Chelonians to 36°.” 
Of the various zoological regions into which the globe has been divided, the 
Oriental or Indian region, according to the same observer, is characterised by the 
number of fresh-water soft-tortoises 1 and S-necked tortoises, 1 land-tortoises being- 
scarce. Crocodiles, inclusive of the characteristic long-necked garials, are numerous, 
as are lizards and snakes—especially pythons. Africa is comparatively poorly off 
for Reptiles, although characterised by its numerous land-tortoises, soft-tortoises, 
and side-necked tortoises; 1 the crocodiles being represented only by members of 
the typical genus; while lizards and snakes are comparatively numerous. Among 
the lizards, monitors, and among the snakes, pythons, are common to the Oriental 
and African regions; while half of the exclusively Old World group of chamseleons 
are African. Madagascar is even more remarkable for the number of its 
chamseleons; its land and side-necked tortoises are numerous, although soft- 
tortoises, as in South America, are absent; there is one crocodile; and among the 
lizards the South American group of iguanas is abundant; while the snakes, 
among which none is poisonous, are also of a South American type. In the 
warmer parts of the Euro-Asiatic region (exclusive of India, etc.) the reptile fauna 
is mainly a mixture of Oriental and African types, although there are some 
peculiar forms. The only non-American alligator inhabits Central China. In 
the Australian or tropical Pacific region, exclusive of New Zealand, we meet with 
one group of land-tortoises, side-necked tortoises, and a crocodile; while amongst 
the lizards there are skinks, geckos, monitors, and the so-called agamoids; the 
latter occurring in all the regions above mentioned, except Madagascar. Venomous 
snakes here outnumber the harmless ones. The Tropical and South American 
region is characterised by the presence of land and side-necked tortoises, to the 
exclusion of soft-tortoises. Crocodiles and caimans are numerous (the latter being 
characteristic); while of the abundant lizards the majority are iguanas, the true 
lizards ( Lacertidai ) of the Old World being replaced by the teiias ( Teiidce ); 
snakes are also numerous, among them being rattle-snakes and boas. In the 
North American region there are no caimans, their place being taken by an 
allio-ator • while fresh-water S-necked tortoises, as well as soft-tortoises, replace the 
side-necked tortoises of the southern half of the continent. The snapping tortoises 
( Ghelydridce ) are also mainly characteristic of this region, although one genus 
ranges as far south as Ecuador. As regards its lizards and snakes, this region 
presents the same relation to the preceding as is held by Euro-Asia to the Oriental 
and African regions. Lastly, New Zealand stands apart from all other countries 
in possessing the remarkable tuatera, in addition to which its only reptiles are 
skinks and geckos. 
i For the explanation of these and other names, the reader must refer to later chapters. 
