Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/276

 226 NOETH-WEST AFEIOA. Fauna of Algeria. The Algerian fauna, like its flora, forms part of the Mediterranean zone, thus still attesting the former connection of Mauritania with Europe. Nearly all the species are, or at least were at one time, common to the two regions now separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. But as we advance southwards the analogy gradually disappears, first for mammals, and then for birds. In the southern districts a con- tinually increasing resemblance is observed, on the other hand, between the Algerian species and those of Nubia, Abyssinia, and Senaar. The intervening desert was certainly in former times less extensive and more fertile than at present, so that manv animals may have migrated from Central Africa to Mauritania. But for shells, which move more slowly and with greater difficulty across unfavourable tracts, the normal distribution has been maintained. Hence the contrast in this respect between the Algerian and Sudanese faunas is complete. According to Bourguignat, six parallel faunas follow successively from north to south, in Algeria — those of the seaboard, of the coast ranges, of the central plateaux, of the southern ranges, of a now-dricd-up maritime zone, and lastly, of the Sahara. Since the separation of the European and North African areas, both have become modified, less, however, by the development of new varieties than through the disappearance of old forms. The loss has been greatest in Europe, where civilisation was earlier diffused ; but Mauritania also has lost some of its species even within the historic period. There can be no doubt that the elephant was cap- tured in the Nuraidian forests two thousand years ago ; but it has now disappeared, together with the bear, which from numerous local traditions and legends appears to have survived in the wooded heights of the Upper Seybouse down to the period of the conquest. Shaw speaks of the bear as still living in the Algerian forests ; Horace Vernet saw a freshly dressed bearskin ; and hunters are mentioned who are said to have recently pursued this animal. The deer is also disappearing, while the ape family is represented only by a single species, the pithecus inniius, found also on the rock of Gibraltar. On the other hand, many wild beasts long extinct in Europe still hold their ground in North Africa. Such are the lion, panther, wild boar, hyaena, jackal, and Barbary wild cat, the two first being numerous especially in the dense thickets of the province of Constantino, and in the hilly and wooded districts south of the Shelif river, near the Tunisian frontier. But the ostrich, bustard, and mouflon, till recently abundant on the central plateaux, have everywhere become very rare since the French conquest. The gazelle, of which there are three varieties, is also retiring towards the Sahara, although occasionally compelled by want of water to return to the southern highlands. But although the upland plateauix have thus ceased to be a great hunting- ground, the local feudal families still keep their falcons as of old, and also preserve a famous breed of greyhounds, M'hich are highly esteemed, while other dogs have remained in a semi-savage state, prowling about the camping-grounds and Justly