The geographical and geological distribution of animals / by Angelo Heilprin.

  • Angelo Heilprin
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The geographical and geological distribution of animals / by Angelo Heilprin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    entirely out of date, and in no way represents the present status of the science. The subject of geographical and geological distribution is so vast that no full treatment of it could he expected in the limited number of pages set apart for it in the present work. The author has, therefore, been obliged to omit, or at least largely ignore, the consideration of some of the less impor- tant animal groups, and, while recognising the deficiencies resulting from such omission, trusts that it will not detract much from the general usefulness of the publication. The plan of treatment followed in the early pai’t of the book (geographical distribution) is largely that so admirably un- folded by Mr. Wallace, to whom, for the constant use of his woi’ks, the author is under great obligations. He also wishes to express his special indebtedness to the pioneer workers in this field, Schmarda and Murray, whose writings have laid the foundation of much of our existing knowledge in the premises. No special mention need be made of the numer- ous other authors who have contributed more or less exten- sively to the subject under consideration, and whose works have aided in the preparation of the present volume; to those, collectively, the author likewise desires to acknowledge his indebtedness. A few words need be said in relation to the zoogeographical regions that are recognised in this w^ork, which differ essen- tially from those generally adopted by naturalists. The rea- sons for uniting the “ Nearctic.” and “ Paljearctic ” regions of zoogeographers into a single realm, designated, in accord- ance with a suggestion by Professor Alfred Newton, of Cam- bridge, the “Holarctic,” are fully .set forth in my paper “On the Value of the Nearctic as one of the Primary Zoological Regions,” ]mblished in the “ Proceedings of the Academy of Natural bciences of Philadelphia,” for December, 1882. Ob-
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