. Island life : or, the phenomena and causes of insular faunas and floras, including a revision and attempted solution of the problem of geological climates . in one small island only (Santa Maria) of somemarine deposits of Upper Miocene ageâa fact whichproves some alterations of level, and perhaps a greaterextension of this island at some former period, but in noway indicates a former union of the islands, or any greaterextension of the whole group. It proves, however, thatthe group is of considerable antiquity, since it must dateback to Miocene times; and this fact may be of im-portance in c
. Island life : or, the phenomena and causes of insular faunas and floras, including a revision and attempted solution of the problem of geological climates . in one small island only (Santa Maria) of somemarine deposits of Upper Miocene ageâa fact whichproves some alterations of level, and perhaps a greaterextension of this island at some former period, but in noway indicates a former union of the islands, or any greaterextension of the whole group. It proves, however, thatthe group is of considerable antiquity, since it must dateback to Miocene times; and this fact may be of im-portance in considering the origin and peculiar features ofthe fauna and flora. It thus appears that in all physicalfeatures the Azores correspond strictly with our physicaldefinition of oceanic islands/ while their great distance 248 ISLAND LIFE PART II from any other land, and the depth of the ocean aroundthem, make them typical examples of the class. Weshould therefore expect them to be equally typical in theirfauna and flora; and this is the case as regards the mostimportant characteristics, although in some points of detailthey present exceptional OUTLINE MAP OF THE AZORES. Note.âThe light tint shows where the sea is less than 1,000 fathoms dark tint ,, ,, ,, more than 1,000 fathoms deep. The figures show depths in fathoms. Chief Zoological Features of the Azores?-âThe greatfeature of oceanic islandsâthe absence of all indigenousland-mammalia and amphibiaâis well shown in this ^ For most of the facts as to the zoology and botany of these islands, Iam indebted to Mr. Godmans valuable workâNatural History of theAzores or Western Islands, by Frederick Du Cane Godman, , ,&c., London, 1870. CHAP. XII THE AZORES 249 group; and it is even carried further, so as to include allterrestrial vertebrata, there being no snake, lizard, frog, orfresh-water fish, although the islands are sufficiently exten-sive, possess a mild and equable climate, and are in every
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