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CHAP. XIV.] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 23
Having already given a sketch of the zoological features of
the Neotropical region as a whole, the greater part of which will
apply to this sub-region, we must here confine ourselves to an
indication of the more important groups which, on the one hand,
are confined to it, and on the other are absent ; together with a
notice of its special relations to other regions.
Mammalia.—Many of the most remarkable of the American
monkeys are limited to this sub-region'; as Lagothrix, Pithecia,
and Brachyurus, limited to the great Amazonian forests ;
Eriodes
to south-east Brazil ; and Callithrix to tropical South America.
All the marmosets (Hapalidse) are also confined to this sub-region,
one only being found at Panama, and perhaps extending a little
beyond it. Among other peculiar forms, are 8 genera of bats
3 peculiar forms of wild dog ; Pteronura, a genus of otters
Inia, a peculiar form of dolphin inhabiting the upper waters of
the Amazon ;
tapirs of the genus Tapirus (a distinct genus being
found north of Panama) ; 4 genera of Muridse ; Ctenomys, a genus
of Octodontidse ;
the whole family of Echimyidse, or spiny rats,
(as far as the American continent is concerned) consisting of 8
genera and 28 species ; Chmtoriiys, a genus of Cercolabidse ; the
capybara {Hydrochcerus) the largest known rodent, belonging to
the Caviidse ; the larger ant-eaters {Myrmecophaga) ; sloths of the
genus Bradypus ; 2 genera of armadillos (Dasypodidae) ; and two
peculiar forms of the opossum family (Didelphyidse). No group
that is typically Neotropical is absent from this sub-region,
except such as are peculiar to other single sub-regions and which
will be noticed accordingly. The occurrence of a solitary species
of hare (Lepiis hraziliensis) in central Brazil and the Andes, is
remarkable, as it is cut off from all its allies, the genus not being
known to occur elsewhere on the continent further south than
Costa Eica. The only important external relation indicated by
the Mammalia of this sub-region is towards the Ethiopian region,
2 genera of Echimyidse, Aulacodes and Petromys, occurring in
South and South-east Africa.
Plate IV. Characteristic Neotropical Mammalia.—Our illustra-
tion represents a mountainous forest in Brazil, the part of South
America where the Neotropical Mammalia are perhaps best
Vol. II.—