whatever elevations and subsidences these countries may have undergone, they have not been connected either with Asia, Africa, or South America during the whole Tertiary period. In conclusion, I would especially remark that the various changes in the outlines and mutual relations of our continents, which I have now endeavoured to establish, must not be supposed to have been all strictly contemporaneous. Some may have been a little carlier or a little later than others ; some changes may have been slower, others more rapid ; some may have had but a short duration, while others may have persisted through considerable geological periods. But, notwithstanding this uncertainty as to details, the great features of the geographical revolutions which I have indicated, appear to be established by a mass of concurring evidence; and the lesson they teach us is, that although almost the whole of what is now dry land has undoubtedly once lain deep beneath the waters of the ocean, yet such changes on a great scale are excessively slow and gradual; so that, when compared with the highest estimates of the antiquity of the human race, or even with that of most of the higher animals, our existing continents and oceans may be looked upon as permanent features of the earth's surface. ERRATOI. At page 59 I have said that there are only three or four species of Mimosa which are sensitive. This is a mistake, as the greater portion of the species in the extensive genus Mimosa, as well as some species of several other genera jf Leguminosa, and also of Oxalidaceæ, possess this curious property. I cannot find, however, that any one has suggested in what way the sensitiveness may have been useful to the species which first acquired it. My guess at an explanation may therefore induce botanists who are acquainted with the various species in a state of nature, to suggest some better solution of the problem. A. Arrus-pheasant, wonderful plumage of, 205 Assai of the Amazon, 43 238 Audubon, on the ruby humming-birds, Australian Region, mammalia of, 340 extinct fauna of, 341 341 B. BAJBOOS, 52 Bananas, wild, 47 Barber, Mrs. on colour changes of pupa of Papilio nircus, 168 froin N. American mound, 296 Bark, varieties of in tropical forests, 33 and London, diagram of mean temperatures, 5 greatest rainfall at, 24 Bates, Mr, on climate at the Equator, 24 on animal life in Amazon valley, 70 of species of, 257 on importanco of study of butter on leaf-cutting ants, 88 un bird-catching spider, 97 on large serpouts, 115 on the habits of humming birde, 132 75 Bu foreste abundance of, in tropical Bats, 118 Campyloplcrus hemilcucurus, pugnaBeetles, 94 cious and ornamental, 214 C'ecropias, trees inhabited by ants, 89 probable use of horns of, 202 Celebes, large and peculiarly formed Belt, Mr. on virgin forests of Nicaragua butterflies of, 259 62 white-marked birls of, 263 Ceylon and Malaya, resemblances of Chameleon, cause of changes of its on a leaf-like locnst, 93 colour, 170 on tree-frogs, 116 Chemical action changes colours, 183 Chiroptera, 119 Clark, Rev. Hamlet on leaf-cutting on use of light of glow-worm, 205 ants, 86 Betel-nut, 45 Climate of Equator, general features of, Bill of humming-birds, 129 17 Biology, by-paths of, illustrated, 251 Climates of Timor, gola, and Scot. Birus, 99 land compared, 14 Jiow many known, 124 Climbing plants of tropical forests, 37 cases of local variation of colour uses of, 39 among, 262 Cockatoos, 100 influence of locality on colours of, Coelogynes, 51 255 Coloratiou of tropical birds, 110 which fertilize flowers, 273, 274 Colour, cause of change of, in humning, and insects blown to uceanic islands, birds, 144 308 Colour in nature, problems of, 159 of Palearctic Region, 316 how far constant, 161 of Ethiopian Region, 318 as affected by heat and light, 161 of Oriental Region, 320 of tropical birds, 163 Bonelli, Mr., on the Sappho comet of tropical butterflies, 164 humming-biru, 132 of temperate and tropical flowers, Bullock on food of humming-birds, 153 165 Buprestidæ, 94 changes of, in animals produced by Burchell, Dr., on the “stone mes. coloured light, 167 einbryanthemum," 223 voluntary change of, in animals, 170 not usually influenced by coloured conspicuousness of in tropical light, 171 forests, 73 Colour, the nature of, 180 colours and form of, 74 how produced, 183 peculiar lobits of tropical, 76 changed by heat, 183 tropical and temperate compared as a noriual product of organization, to colour, 164 185 females do not choose their part as a means of recognition, 196 ners, 200 proportionate to integumentary de. with gaily-coloured females, 204 velopment, 198 numbers and variety of, 255 not caused by female selection, 198 influence of locality on colours of, Colour absent in wind-fertilized flowers, 255 233 Buttressed trees, 31 same theory of, in animals and plants, 234 of flowers and their distribution, C. 235 CALAMUS, 41 Colour, nomenclature of, formerly im. Callithea, imitated by species of Cata perfect, 247 gramma and Agrias, 257 Colour-development as illustrated by Cullithea markii, 75 humming birds, 212 INDEX. A. Arylis-pheasant, wonderful plumage of, 205 Abrus precatoria, perhaps a case of Arums, 48 mimicry, 226 Assai of the Amazon, 43 Absorption-colours or pigments, 183 Auckland Isles, handsome flowers of, Acræidæ, warning colours of, 174 238 Adaptive characters, 150, 155 Audubon, on the ruby humming-birds, Affinities, how to determine doubtful, 130, 137 148 Australian Region, mammalia of, 340 African large mammalia, recent immi. birils of, 340 grants, 323 extinct fauna of, 341 Allen, Mr. Grant, on protective colours its supposed uuion with S. America, of fruits, 223 341 Alpine flowers, why so beautiful, 232 Azara, on food of humming-birds, 135 Amboyna, large sized butterflies of, 258 American monkeys, 118 American Continents, past history of, B. 332 BAMBOOS, 52 Ancient mces of North and South uses of, 53-58 America, 298 Bananas, wild, 47 Andaman Islands, pale butterflies of, Banana, 48 260 Barber, Mrs. on colour changes of pupa white-marked birds of, 263 of Papilio nireus, 168 Anilerson, Mr. W. Marshall, on cranium Barbets, 105 froin N. American mound, 296 Bark, varieties of in tropical forests, 33 Andes, very rich in humming.birds, 139 Barometer, range of, at Batavia, 24 Animal colours, how produced, 181 Batavia, Meteorology of, 4 life in tropical forests, 70 and London, diagram of mean Anthribide, 95 temperatures, 5 Auts, wasps, and becs, 80 greatest rainfall at, 24 numbers of, in India and Malaya, range of barometer at, 24 81-88 Bates, Mr. on climate at the Equator, 24 destructive to insect-specimens, 85 on scarcity of forest-flowers on and vegetation, special relation Amazon, 61 between, 89 on animal life in Amazon Valley, 70 patura and Heterochroa, resemblance on abundance of butterflies at Ega, of species of, 257 75 Apes, 116 on importance of study of butterAqueous vapour of atmosphere, its flies, 78 influence on temperature, 9 on leaf-cutting ants, 88 quantity at Batavia and Clifton, 10 on blind ants, 88 Arctic plants, large leaves uf, 236 un biru-catching spider, 97 flowers and fruits brightly coloured, on use of toucau's bill, 108 237 on large serpents, 115 Areca palm, 45 on he habits of humming birus, Arenga saccharifera, 13 132 |