| → moreover, 1859 1860 |
| distant from it about 280 miles; moreover, 1861 1866 |
| at the distance of about 280 miles; moreover, 1869 1872 |
|
| → small 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| at least small 1869 1872 |
|
| → mammals 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
| new species of mammals 1872 |
|
|
instance, free from doubt, of a terrestrial mammal (excluding domesticated animals kept by the natives) inhabiting an island situated above 300 miles from a continent or great continental island; and many islands situated at a much less distance are equally barren. The Falkland Islands, which are inhabited by a wolf-like fox, come nearest to an exception; but this group cannot be considered as oceanic, as it lies on a bank
with the
→moreover,
icebergs formerly brought boulders to its western shores, and they may have formerly transported foxes, as
frequently
happens in the arctic regions. Yet it cannot be said that small islands will not support
→small
mammals, for they occur in many parts of the world on very small islands,
close to a continent; and hardly an island can be named on which our smaller quadrupeds have not become naturalised and greatly multiplied. It cannot be said, on the ordinary view of creation, that there has not been time for the creation of mammals; many volcanic islands are sufficiently ancient, as shown by the stupendous degradation which they have
and by their tertiary strata: there has also been time for the production of endemic species belonging to other classes; and on continents it is
that
→mammals
appear and disappear at a quicker rate than other and lower animals.
terrestrial mammals do not occur on oceanic islands,
mammals do occur on almost every island. New Zealand possesses two bats found nowhere else in the world: Norfolk Island, the Viti Archipelago, the Bonin Islands, the Caroline and Marianne Archipelagoes, and Mauritius, all possess their peculiar bats. Why, it may be asked, has the supposed creative force produced bats and no other mammals on remote islands? On my view this question can easily be answered; for no
|
