[{378}] The case of islands serving as halting places is given in the Origin, Ed. i. p. 357, vi. p. 505. But here the evidence of this having occurred is supposed to be lost by the subsidence of the islands, not merely by the extinction of the species.
[{379}] “We find no inexplicable cases of the same mammal inhabiting distant points of the world.” Origin, Ed. i. p. 352, vi. p. 500. See also Origin, Ed. i. p. 393, vi. p. 547.
[{380}] «Note by the author.» Many authors. «See Origin, Ed. i. p. 394, vi. p. 547.»
[{381}] Nutria is the Spanish for otter, and is now a synonym for Lutra. The otter on the Atlantic coast is distinguished by minute differences from the Pacific species. Both forms are said to take to the sea. In fact the case presents no especial difficulties.
[{382}] In Origin, Ed. i. p. 394, vi. p. 548, bats are mentioned as an explicable exception to this statement.
[{383}] This reference is doubtless to Mydaus, a badger-like animal from the mountains of Java and Sumatra (Wallace, Geographical Distribution, ii. p. 199). The instance does not occur in the Origin but the author remarks (Origin, Ed. i. p. 376, vi. p. 527) that cases, strictly analogous to the distribution of plants, occur among terrestrial mammals.
[{384}] See Origin, Ed. i. p. 313, vi. p. 454.
[{385}] The comparison between New Zealand and the Cape is given in the Origin, Ed. i. p. 389, vi. p. 542.
[{386}] In a corresponding discussion in the Origin, Ed. i. p. 393, vi. p. 546, stress is laid on the distribution of Batrachians not of reptiles.
[{387}] The whole argument is given—more briefly than here—in the Origin, Ed. i. p. 394, vi. p. 547.