HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL
8
Birds.
Cyclopsittacidse.
Stringopidæ (Owl-Parrots). Rhinochætidse (Kagu).
Gouridæ (Crowned Pigeons). Didunculidse (Tooth-billed Pigeon) Apterygidæ (Kiwis).
Dromseidse (Emus).
Casuariidse (Cassowaries).
Paradiseidse (Birds of Paradise). Ptilonorhynchidse (Bower-Birds). Meliphagidee (Honey-Eaters). Drepanididse (Drepanis). Atrichornithidse (Scrub-Birds). Xenicidee.
Menuridse (Lyre-Birds). Nestoridse (Nestor-Parrots). Loriidee (Lories).
Reptiles.
Pygopodidæ (Scale-footed Lizards). Hatteriidse (Tuatera).
Carettochelydidæ (Fly-River Turtle).
Genyophrynidæ.
Amphibians.
C eratobatrachidæ.
Besides these, the following families are highly characteristic: the Dicseidse (Honey-Peckers), Gampophcigidee (Cuckoo-Shrikes), Podargidse (Frog-Mouths), Cacatuidse (Cockatoos), Megapodidse (Megapodes), Chelydidse (Side-necked Tortoises), and Cystignathidse.
The region is also characterised almost as much by the absence of certain important groups as by those which are present and peculiar. Thus there are few Mammals except Marsupials and Monotremes, the other Orders being represented by some Bats and small Rodents, and one or two odd species which just enter the Region over the Oriental boundary. Apes and Monkeys, Insectivores, Carnivores, Ungulates, and Edentates may be regarded, therefore, as practically absent. Among Birds, the Fringillidse (Finches), Emberizidse (Buntings), and Picidse (Woodpeckers) are absent, as are also the Reptilian families Viperidse (Vipers), and Lacertidse (Typical Lizards).
The fauna of this region, as a whole, is thus seen to be very peculiar and distinct, and there is no little justification for the raising of Wallace’s Region and Sub-regions respectively to higher rank, as jias been done by Heilprin, Lydekker, and others (vide supra and Plate 2).
Austro-Malayan Sub-region—In this insular sub-region there are 113 families of terrestrial Vertebrates, of which four are peculiar. These are the Gouridse (Crowned Pigeons) and the Carettochelydidse (Fly-River Turtle), both confined to New Guinea, and two little-known Amphibian families, Ceraiobatrachidse and Genyophrynidse from the Solomon Islands and Sudest Island respectively. Moreover, since most of this area consists of comparatively small islands, a large number of peculiar genera and species exist, especially when the exceptionally interesting island Celebes is included. In New Guinea three Marsupial genera are peculiar; as are also in Celebes the Black Ape (Cynopithecus niger), and the Anoa (Anoa depressicornis). The Babirussa (Babirussa babirussa) is another remarkable and peculiar member of the Austro-Malayan fauna, occurring in Celebes, Buru, and the Sulu Islands. Among Birds, the families Paradiseidse (Birds of Paradise), Ptilonorhynchidse (Bower-Birds), Meliphagidee (Honey-Eaters), Zosteropidse (White-eyes), Podargidse (Frog-mouths), Loriidse (Lories), Cyclopsittacidee, Megapodidse (Megapodes), and Casuariidse (Cassowaries), attain their highest development in this area, while the families Dicseidse (Honey-Peckers), Campophagidse (Cuckoo-Shrikes), Muscicapidse (Fly-Catchers), Pittidse (Pittas) and Treronidse (Fruit-Pigeons) are very numerously represented. Lastly, in New Guinea and the neighbouring islands, the Amphibian families Engystomatidse (Narrow-mouthed Toads) and Hylidse (Tree-Frogs) are characteristic.
Australian Sub-region.—In this Sub-region 98 families of terrestrial vertebrates are represented, namely 15 of Mammals, 67 of Birds, 13 of Reptiles, and three of Amphibians. Of these, some half-dozen are confined to this area, as follows :—Phascolomyidse (Wombats), Notoryctidse (Marsupial Mole), Ornithorhynchidse (Duck-Bills), Atrichornithidse (Scrub-Birds), Menuridse (Lyre-Birds), and Dromseidse (Emus). This area is notable as being the great home of the Marsupials, for out of 41 known genera 34 are represented and 24 absolutely confined to it. The avifauna too, is highly peculiar, for although only three families are confined to the Sub-region, yet the proportion of peculiar species is larger than in any other Sub-region in any part of the world.
The characteristic, but not peculiar, families are the Macropodidse (Kangaroos), Peramelidse (Bandicoots), Dasyuridse (Thylacine, &c.), Ptilono-rhynchidse (Bower-Birds), Meliphagidee (Honey-Eaters), Certhiidee (Creepers), Artamidse (Swallow-Shrikes), Cacatuidse (Cockatoos), Turnicidee (Bustard-Quails), Elapidse (Cobras, &c.), Pygopodidse (Scale-footed Lizards), Varanidse (Monitors), Chelydidee (Side-necked Tortoises), and Cystignathidee. The Elapidse form about two-thirds of all the Snakes found in Australia, and all of them are poisonous, so that the absence of Vipers (Viperidse) and Rattlesnakes (Crotalidee) is, unfortunately for the country, more than compensated for. Lastly, the entire absence of all tailed Amphibians (Newts, &c.) is noteworthy.
Polynesian Sub-region.—In this Sub-region, made up as it is entirely of small islands, the absence of certain forms is probably to be regarded as more characteristic than is the presence of the few peculiar ones which are mentioned below. The families of terrestrial Vertebrates represented in this great oceanic area only number 53. Of these, 3 are of Bats and 37 of Birds, whose occurrence in these remote islands is probably due to their superior powers of dispersal. Of Reptiles 9 families occur, and of Amphibians only 2, both of which are confined to a single group of islands. The other two families are the Muridse (Mice), and the Cervidse (Deer). Of the latter a single species occurs in the Ladrone Islands.
The families peculiar to the Polynesian Sub-region are the following:____
the Drepanididse, confined to the Sandwich Islands; the Ehinochsetidse (Kagu), only found in New Caledonia; and the Didunculidse (Tooth-billed Pigeon), confined to Samoa.
first to draw attention to the remarkable distinctness of the faunas on either side of this imaginary line, the boundary in question is often spoken of as “ Wallace’s line,” Among the widely-spread families whose distribution is thus sharply limited, may be mentioned the Erinaceidse (Hedgehogs), Mustelidse (Weasels, &c.), Ursidee (Bears), Canidse (Dogs, Foxes, &c.j, Leporidse (Hares and Rabbits), Troglodytidse (Wrens), Fringillidse (Finches), TJpupidse (Hoopoes), Viperidse (Vipers), Lacertidse (Typical Lizards), Anguidse (Slow-Worms) and Cceeiliidse.
Number of Families of terrestrial Vertebrates in the Oriental Region and its Four Sub-regions.
	Mammals.	Birds.	Reptiles.	Amphibians.	Total.
Omental Region in General	37 (4)1	76 (1)	30 (5)	10	153 (10)
Indian Sub-region	27	69	23 (1)	4	123 (1)
Ceylonese ,,	27	67	23 (1)	5	122 (1)
Indo-Chinese ״	33	70	25(1)	10	138 (1)
Indo-Malayan ,,	32(1)	69	25 (1)	6	132 (2)
1 The figures within parentheses indicate the number oi peculiar families.
IV. THE AUSTRALIAN REGION.
Extent.—This region includes the whole of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, the Moluccas and neighbouring islands, and practically the whole of the islands in the Pacific Ocean. Its boundary on the west is a line drawn between the islands of Bali and Lombok (Wallace’s line), thence to the east of Celebes and the Philippine Islands, and just to the west of the Pelew and Ladrone Islands. The line then runs due eastwards along the Tropic of Cancer to include the Sandwich Islands, thence in a southeasterly direction as far as the Low Archipelago, and finally curves round to the south of New Zealand and the Auckland Islands, Tasmania and Australia.
The island of Celebes has always proved a difficulty, chiefly on account of the number of peculiar forms which it possesses. It bears a close relationship to both the Oriental and the Australian Regions, and although originally placed by Wall ace in the latter, it is often considered at the present day as a separate sub-region of the Oriental.
Sub-regions.—The four Sub-regions are as follows:—(1) Austro-Malayan; (2) Australian; (3) Polynesian; and (4) New Zealand. The Austro-Malayan Sub-region comprises all the islands of the Malay Archipelago not included in the Oriental Region, together with New Guinea, the Moluccas, and the Solomon Islands. The Australian Sub-region consists of the whole of Australia and Tasmania; while New Zealand, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, the Kermadec, Chatham, Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie Islands constitute the New Zealand Sub-region. Finally, all the remaining islands of Polynesia, as far north as the Tropic of Cancer, and including the Sandwich Islands, are embraced in the Polynesian Sub-region.
Physical Features.—This region is essentially one of islands, with only three land-masses of any considerable extent, viz.:—Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. The first of these is characterised by a peculiar climate and, coupled with this, a very remarkable fauna. This may be accounted for by its great isolation, for it is surrounded on nearly all sides by thousands of miles of ocean, and only on the north-west is there any adjacent land suggesting a former connection with other continental areas. A great portion of the interior of this island-continent consists of arid plain and desert, the most fertile temperate region lying in the east and south-east. The northern portion is entirely tropical, with a heavy rainfall, but with this exception the climate of the whole area is peculiarly arid and the rainfall very irregular. As a contrast to this, most of the islands of the Austro-Malayan Sub-region are covered with luxuriant tropical forest, with a ri°h and varied fauna. In the south-western islands, however (e.g. Flores and Timor), the conditions approach those of Australia. The numerous scattered islands of the Polynesian Sub-region may be roughly grouped into two classes, volcanic islands and atolls. The former usually rise to a high elevation and are clothed with rich forests, while the latter are remarkably low, desolate and almost devoid of both fauna and flora. New Zealand, the last area to be considered, possesses a temperate and equable climate, with a backbone of high mountain ranges and numerous fine rivers, due to an abundant rainfall. The fauna is deficient, especially as regards the higher forms of life, but such creatures as there are, claim attention through their interesting and highly peculiar nature.
Zoological Characteristics.—This very distinct region possesses representatives of 134 families of terrestrial Vertebrates, no fewer than 30 of which are peculiar, including eight of Mammals, 17 of Birds, 3 of Reptiles, and 2 of Amphibians. The peculiar families of Mammals comprise the whole order Monotremata and most of the Marsupialia, the remaining families of the latter being the DidelpKidse (Opossums), confined to the Neotropical and the southern portion of the Nearctit Regions, and the small group known as Csenolestidse (Opossum Rats), confined to a ¡mall area in the Neotropical Region. The complete list of peculiar families in the Australian Region is as follows
Mammals.
Notoryctidse (Marsupial Mole). Dasyuridse (Dasyures). Echidnidse (Spiny Ant-eaters). Ornithorhynchidse (Duck-Bills).
Macropodidse (Kangaroos). Phalangeridse (Phalangers). Phascolomyidse (Wombats). Peramelidse (Bandicoots).