We can here consider only a few
cases. cases. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
cases; of these, some of the most difficult to explain are presented by fish. 1872 |
↑8 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869; present in 1872 | It was formerly believed that the same fresh-water species never existed on two continents distant from each other.
But Dr. Günther has lately shown that the Galaxias attenuatus inhabits Tasmania, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, and the mainland of South America.
This is a wonderful case, and probably indicates dispersal from an Antarctic centre during a former warm period.
This case, however, is rendered in some degree less surprising by the species of this genus having the power of crossing by some unknown means considerable spaces of open ocean: thus there is one species common to New Zealand and to the Auckland Islands, though separated by a distance of about 230 miles.
On the same continent fresh-water fish often range widely, and as if capriciously; for in two adjoining river-systems some of the species may be the same, and some wholly different.
It is probable that they are occasionally transported by what may be called accidental means.
Thus fishes still alive are not very rarely dropped at distant points by whirlwinds; and it is known that the ova retain their vitality for a considerable time after removal from the water.
Their dispersal may, however, be mainly attributed to changes in the level of the land within the recent period, causing rivers to flow into each other.
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In regard to fish, I believe that the same species never occur in the fresh waters of distant continents. But on the same continent the species often range widely and almost capriciously; for two river-systems will have some fish in common and some different. A few facts seem to favour the possibility of their occasional transport by accidental means; like that of the live fish not rarely dropped by whirlwinds in India, and the vitality of their ova when removed from the water. But I am inclined to attribute the dispersal of fresh-water fish mainly to
slight slight 1859 1860 1861 1866 | slight 1869 |
changes
within within 1859 1860 1861 1866 | in 1869 |
the
recent period in the recent period in the 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
OMIT 1869 |
level of the
land, land, 1859 1860 1861 1866 | land 1869 |
having having 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
within the recent period, having 1869 |
caused rivers to flow into each other. Instances, also, could be given of this having occurred during floods, without any change of level. We have evidence in the loess of the Rhine of considerable changes of level in the land within a very recent geological period, and when the surface was peopled by existing land and fresh-water shells. The wide difference of the fish on
opposite opposite 1859 1860 1861 1866 | the opposite 1869 1872 |
sides of
continuous continuous 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | most 1872 |
mountain-ranges, which
from from 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
are continuous, and which consequently must from 1872 |
an early period
must must 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | must 1872 |
have
parted river-systems and parted river-systems and 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
OMIT 1869 1872 |
completely prevented
their their 1859 1860 1861 1866 | the 1869 1872 |
inosculation, inosculation, 1859 1860 1861 1866 | inosculation 1869 1872 |
seems to seems to 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
of the river-systems, seems to 1869 |
of the river-systems on the two sides, 1872 |
lead lead 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | leads 1872 |
to
this this 1859 1860 1861 1866 | the 1869 1872 |
same conclusion.
With respect to allied With respect to allied 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
Some 1872 |
fresh-water fish
occurring at very distant points of the world, no doubt there are many cases which cannot at present be explained: but some fresh-water fish occurring at very distant points of the world, no doubt there are many cases which cannot at present be explained: but some fresh-water fish 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
occurring at very distant points of the world, no doubt there, are many cases which cannot at present be explained: but some fresh-water fish 1869 |
OMIT 1872 |
belong to very ancient forms, and in such cases there will have been ample time for great geographical changes, and consequently time and means for much migration. ↑1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869; present in 1872 | Moreover Dr. Günther has recently been led by several considerations to infer that with fishes the same forms have a long endurance.
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In the second place, In the second place, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
OMIT 1872 |
salt-water salt-water 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | Salt-water 1872 |
fish can with care be slowly accustomed to live in fresh water; and, according to Valenciennes, there is hardly a single group of
fishes confined exclusively fishes confined exclusively 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
which all the members are confined exclusively 1869 |
which all the members are confined 1872 |
to fresh water, so that
we may imagine that we may imagine that 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
OMIT 1869 1872 |
a marine
member of member of 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
species of 1869 |
species belonging to 1872 |
a fresh-water group might travel far along the shores
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