the islands, which shall so divide them that one-half shall
truly belong to Asia, while the other shall no less certainly
be allied to Australia. I term these respectively the
Indo-Malayan, and the Austro-Malayan divisions of. the
Archipelago. (See Physical Map.)
On referring to pages 12, 13,. and 36 of Mr. Earl’s
pamphlet, it will be seen that he maintains the former
connexion of Asia and Australia as an important part of
his view, whereas I dwell mainly on their long continued
separation. Notwithstanding this and other important
differences between us, to him undoubtedly belongs the
merit of first indicating the division of the Archipelago
into; an' Australian and an Asiatic region, which, it has
been my good fortune to establish by more detailed
observations.
Contrasts in Natural Productions.—To understand the
importance of . this class of facts,; and. its bearing upon
the. former distribution of land and sea, it is necessary to
consider the results arrived at by geologists and naturalists
in other parts of the world.
I t is now generally admitted that the present distribution
of living things on the surface of the earth is mainly
the result of the last series of changes that it has undergone.
' Geology teaches us that the surface of the land
and the distribution of land and water is everywhere
slowly, changing. I t further . teaches us that the forms