WERE NEW ZEALAND AND MADAGASCAR ONCE UNITED ?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1480, 25 November 1872, Page 3

WERE NEW ZEALAND AND MADAGASCAR ONCE UNITED ?

{From Harper's Magazine) M. Graudielicr, the well-known explorer sf Madagascar, and ono to whom we owe so many novelties in uatuvul history, bas lately published in the Revue Scientllquo aa abstract o£ liia experienco in that island. . . He calls attention to the remarkable fact, which is also adverted to by Harfsland and Edwards, of the absence of any, species of woodpeckers and tho presence oi black parrots, in which, as well as in other matters, there is a close analogy between the faunas of Madagascar and of Australia* and little or no relationship to that of the adjacent continent of Africa. Indeed, Professor Edwards is of the opinion that at somo period, geologically not very remote, Madagascar and Now Zealand must have been united by land which is now below the surface of the ocean, tho close relationship between the iEpyomis of Madagascar and Dinornis of jNow Zealand rendering this very evident. He finds a source of congratulation to tho inhabitants of Madagascar in tho entire absence of. venomous serpents, none of the comparatively few species of snakes having poisonous proPe M. e Alphonse Milne-Edwards, of Paris, the «on of the eminent naturalist of the same name, lias been engaged for many yeara in

the publication of a great work upon fossil birds, which ho is just about bringing to a conclusion. To this labour he has brought a thorough knowledgo of comparative anatomy, such as perhaps is possessed by no other living naturalist ; and the work in question, although unfinished, has already become a standard and guide to those who are engaged in similar pursuits. In a late communication to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, referring to the approaching completion of his book, he makes some general remarks, which contain matter oi : much interest. In reference to the birds of the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Rodriguez, and Bourbon), he remarks that, as far as the indications so, these are the points still repiaining of an ancient continent which, little by little, has sunk beneath the ocean. Upon these, thus converted into islands, have been concentrated the inhabitants of the land, where 'they have been crowded together, as shown by their fossil remains, and where they boeame exterminated, sooner or later, either by the action of man or other agencies. M. Edwards thinks Madagascar was not connected with these islands at any time ; since when flvafe discovered by Europeans, the latter contained no mammals at all, and therefore, of course, none of the forms at allpeculiar to Madagascar, such as lemurs, &c. On the other hand, there is evidence to show that Madagascar and Kow Zealand were formerly united, since three species of iEpyornis from Madagascar bear a close generic relationship to Diuornis, Palapteryx, and Apteryx of the latter region. All these belong to the same zoological type, and communication must have existed between the countries, probably by groups of islands forming intermediate stations, and now unI fortunately submerged, leaving no trace '■ behind.