these types there. Their absence at the Auckland-Campbell Islands 
shows that, if there has been a direct connection between the two 
regions — as is indicated by so very many facts in the distribution 
of both plants and animals of these regions, and as is also main- 
tained by the W e gen e r-theory — such connection must have 
been discontinued, before the said forms came into existence, that 
is to say — for the Abatus-gvoup — probably in the early Tertiary.^) 
It is of interest to note in this connection that P. Marshall 
in his paper on the Geology of Campbell Island and the Snares 
(Subantarct. Isl. of New Zealand II) mentions a Micraster and a 
Brissopsis as occurring in a limestone at Perseverance Harbour, 
Campbell Isl., of early Tertiary age. Unfortunatety, the uncertain 
Identification, together with the faet that no figures are given of 
these fossils, does not allow to draw definite conclusions as to the 
relation of these fossil Echinoids from the Campbell Island to those 
of the Magellanic region. But if the Identification of these forms 
as belonging to Micraster and Brissopsis is correct, this proves that 
also the fossils are quite different from those of Patagonia. 
A comparison again of the New Zealand Echinoderm fauna with 
that of the Antarctic most decidedly shows that there is no 
relation whatever between these two faunas. Alone the 
genus Ophioceres is, so far as we know, restricted to these two 
regions, one species, O. incipiéns, being known from the Antarctic, 
the other, O. Huttoni, from New Zealand. I cannot give any satis- 
factory explanation of this faet; but, in any case, we cannot see 
herein any proof whatever of a former nearer connection between 
the two regions — we might equally well maintain that the existence 
of the genus Ophiopteris alone in New Zealand and California proves 
a direct connection to have existed between those two countries 
1) We do not know the exact time, when the Åbatus-gvowp came into 
existence. But I would suggest that the Schizaster patagonensis of Lam¬ 
bert (Note sur les Échinides recueillis par M. A. Tournouér en Pata- 
gonie. Buli. Soc. Géol. de France. 4. Sér. III. 1903. p. 481, PI. XV) really 
belongs to this group. Lambert is of opinion that the strata from which 
the said collection of fossils came are of oligocene or miocene age. 
Cf. also the author’s report on the Echinoidea of the German S. Polar 
Expedition (Deutsche Sud-Polar Expedition XI. Zoologie III. 1909. p. 101). 
- As regards the time, when the Ophionotus-fovms came into existence 
we have no means of forming any opinion thereof. 
