The least prolific of these provinces contains 22 species, or between 1/5th and 1/6th of the total number of species, and the most prolific between 1/3rd and 1/4th of this same number. In each of these provinces, it is remarkable that the peculiar species are very nearly two thirds of the whole of its inhabitants. These facts, I think, show that the above provinces are natural divisions of the world, as far as their Cirripedial inhabitants are concerned.
As Cirripedes belong to the great class of Crustacea, and as the distribution of the latter has lately been fully discussed by Mr. Dana, it may be worth while briefly to compare my results with his; more especially as they are so very different. I should premise, as perhaps accounting to a certain extent for this difference, that, owing to the wide range of many species, and the almost universal extension of the same genera, my provinces are founded merely on a certain proportion of the species, namely, two thirds, being peculiar or confined to a region of considerable dimensions: whereas, in the case of ordinary Crustaceans, the greater number of the species are distinct even in the sub-provinces, and the provinces are founded mainly on generic differences. Mr. Dana divides the surface of the globe into three great sections, or provinces, the Africo-Europæan, the extent of which is shown by its title; the Occidental, which includes both the east and west coast of both Americas; and the Oriental, including the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with the East Indian Archipelago, and Australia. Thus Mr. Dana entirely separates the Eastern shores of North America from Europe; whereas, as far as their Cirripedial inhabitants are concerned, they are most intimately allied, and form my first or North Atlantic province; and to this, as I have shown, even the West Indies, the coast of Brazil, and equatorial West Africa might have been added. It follows, from this similarity in the Cirripedes on the two sides of the Atlantic, and from their dissimilarity with those on the shores of the Pacific, that the east and west coasts of the two Americas form two quite distinct Cirripedial provinces; though, in the northern half, some connection is shown by a few representative species: on the other hand, Mr. Dana unites both sides of the whole American continent, into his single Occidental province. The South-African province is not brought out by Mr. Dana so prominently, as I have found necessary. Mr. Dana joins the East Indian Archipelago and Australia into his single Oriental province, and makes New Zealand, as a sub-province, apparently as distinct from Australia, as Australia is from the East Indian Archipelago: whereas I find that the Cirripedes of New Zealand clearly belong to Australia; and that the Australian Cirripedes, especially if the temperate shores be alone considered, are as distinct from those of the East Indian Archipelago, as from those of any other quarter of the whole world. I believe that the provinces deduced from the distribution of Cirripedes, accord better with the Molluscan provinces, than with those given by Mr. Dana for the rest of the great class of Crustaceans.
In the following tables, an asterisk means that the species is not found in any other distinct region of the globe. When found in one of the five provinces, a corresponding number, within brackets, is appended, to show in which province or sub-province it has been found.
(1.) FIRST OR NORTH ATLANTIC PROVINCE: Europe and the Eastern United States, from the Arctic Regions to 30° north latitude.
| [Balanus tintinnabulum] | (1 to 5). |
| [tulipiformis]* | confined to Europe. |
| [calceolus] | Europe and India. |
| [galeatus]* | confined to North America and West Indies. |
| [spongicola] | (2) and West Indies (?). |
| [perforatus]* | confined to Europe, but possibly in the West Indies. |
| [amphitrite] | (1 to 5). |
| [eburneus]* | confined to North America and West Indies. |
| [improvisus] | Europe and North America and (3). |
| [porcatus]* | Europe and North America. |
| [crenatus] | ””W. Indies and (2). |
| [balanoides]* | ”” |
| [Hameri]* | ”” |
| [Acasta spongites] | Europe and (2). |
| [cyathus]* | Madeira and West Indies. |
| [Pyrgoma anglicum]* | confined to Europe, but ranges as far at least as the Cape de Verde Islands. |
| [Xenobalanus globicipitis]* | confined to Europe. |
| [Chthamalus stellatus] | Europe and North America and (3 and 4). |
| [Pachylasma giganteum]* | confined to Europe. |
| [Verruca Strömia] | Europe and Red Sea. |
| [Spengleri]* | Madeira. |
| Pœcilasma aurantia* | ” |
| crassa* | ” |
| Dichelaspis Lowei* | ” |
| Oxynaspis celata* | ” |
| Alepas minuta* | Europe. |
| parasita* | Europe and Atlantic Ocean. |
| Anelasma squalicola* | Europe. |
| [Alcippe lampas]* | ” |
| Scalpellum vulgare* | ” |
| Pollicipes cornucopia* | ” |
Here we have 31 species, of which 22 are not found in any other great region of the world.
(2.) SUB-PROVINCE: Africa, South of lat. 30°.
| [Balanus tintinnabulum] | (1 to 5). |
| [Capensis]* | |
| [spongicola] | (1) and West Indies (?). |
| [amphitrite] | (1 to 5). |
| [crenatus] | (1) and West Indies. |
| [Acasta spongites] | (1). |
| [Tetraclita serrata]* | |
| [rosea] | (4). |
| [Chthamalus dentatus]* | also on West Coast of Africa. |
| [Octomeris angulosa]* | |
| Scalpellum ornatum* |
In this small region we have only 11 species, of which five are peculiar: [Balanus Capensis] and [Tetraclita serrata], seem to be representatives of [B. psittacus] of S. America and of [T. porosa] of that and several other regions.
(3.) SECOND PROVINCE: West Coast of South and North America, from Tierra del Fuego to Behring’s Straits.