134

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

 

live the crocodile, gigantic lizards, and many
venomous serpents.

Among Birds, the water species are in the as-
cendance. Humming-birds, which occur also in
North America, are found in great abundance in
the southern continent. The condor is found on
the higher slopes throughout the Andes; the os-
trich, toucan, and parrot are also characteristic.

Among the Mammalia, the ant-eaters and sloths
peculiarly characterize the continent. The tapir
and peccary are the only representatives of the
elephant, rhinoceros, and hippopotamus of the
Eastern continents. The lama, puma, and the.
prehensile-tailed monkeys are also characteristic
of the region.

The South American district of fur-bearing animals ex-
tends through parts of Chili and the Argentine Republic.
The marsh beaver is the principal animal.

353. Asiatic Fauna.—F rom the great mass of
land within the tropics, the fauna of Asia, besides
its numerous arctic and temperate species, contains
a great variety of tropical forms.

Taken in connection with Northern Africa,
Asia is essentially the region of extensive dry

plains and arid tracts. The vegetation through- .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 120, Elephant.

out its temperate climes is greatly inferior to that
of America, but its animal life is marked by a
much greater variety in the higher forms. Fore-

- plumage abound.

most among these are the man-like monkeys, the
orang-outang, the elephant, the royal tiger, and
others. Fur-bearing animals are also numerous.
Among birds, those with bright, gay-colored
Reptiles also are repre-
sented, though not to such an extent as in
South America.

When we bear in mind that in Asia, the horse,
ass, goat, sheep, camel, swine, elephant, buffalo,
and ox are found in great numbers, it will be
seen that Asia, the home of primitive man, is
also peculiarly the home of domesticated animals ;
that is, of the animals which man has trained to
labor for him.

The Asiatic district of fur-bearing animals includes Si-
beria, Kamtchatka, and the basin of the Amoor River in
Mantchooria. The following animals are characteristic:
the brown bear, badger, weasel, ermine, sable, otter, marten,
and many others. The furs of the sable, black fox, otter,
and the ermine, are considered the most valuable.

854. African Fauna.—The peculiarities of the
northern portion of the continent have been al-
ready pointed out in connection with Asia. It is
a fact worthy of notice, that the great deserts of
the world, like the Sahara, though nearly desti-
tute of any vegetation, are able to sustain many
of the highest species of animals.

Over these tracts are found the lordly lion, the
leopard, and the panther, and the numerous ani-
mals on which they prey, such as the antelope,
the zebra, the quagga, and others. All these
possess powers of rapid locomotion, which pe-
culiarly fit them for the arid plains over which
they roam.

In the remaining portions of Africa, the luxu-
riant vegetation is capable of sustaining animals
of a larger growth. Here occur the largest of
the Mammalia, such as the elephant, rhinoceros,
and hippopotamus ; here also is found the giraffe,
the largest of the ruminantia; man-like monkeys
are also characteristic.

355. Australian Fauna.—The more nearly per-
fect isolation of Australia than any of the other
continents, together with the peculiar distribu-
tion of its heat and moisture, causes its fauna
and flora to-differ markedly from those of all
the other continents.

Australia is essentially the home of the marsu-
pials. These are both carnivorous and herbivor-
ous. The kangaroo is, perhaps, the most cha-
racteristic of the marsupials. Large and power-
ful animals are entirely absent; in this respect
the continent offers a sharp contrast to Africa.