Correction in “Island Life”

Abstract

IN Dr. Merriam's recently published paper on “The Geographical Distribution of Life in North America,” an important, and to me almost inexplicable error in my work “Island Life” is pointed out. It occurs at page 41 in the first edition, and is unfortunately repeated at the same page in the recently published new edition, and consists chiefly in stating that the moles (Talpidae) are almost confined to the Palaearctic region. But a little further on in the same work (page 48 of first edition, and page 49 of second edition) it is correctly stated that there are three peculiar genera of moles in North America, and the same statement is made at page 115, and again at page 190 of vol. ii. of my “Geographical Distribution of Animals.” At page 182 of vol. i. of the latter work, however, the error first appears, and it is this erroneous passage that has remained unnoticed till now, and was unfortunately repeated in “Island Life.” In the same paragraph an error of a similar kind also occurs as to the distribution of the lynxes. To correct these errors pages 41 and 42 of the new edition of “Island Life” are being reprinted, and will be sent to all who possess the volume if they will forward a stamped and directed envelope to the publishers.