The Land Vertebrates of Pemba. Zanzibar and Mafia: A Zoo-Geographical Study.

Abstract

Recent advances in the insular ornithology, with which we have been especially concerned, made it possible for us to compare for the first time approximately complete avifaunallists for the three big East African islands, Pemba, Zanzibar, and Mafia. We were struck by the curious distributional problems thereby raised, which, in view of the relatively easy dispersal of birds, could not adequately be considered without broadening the basis of discussion to include also terrestrial animals. Since our own special study had been the birds, it is due entirely to the assistance we have received from workers at the British Museum, especially Mr. H. W. Parker and Mr. R. W. Hayman, that we have been able to deal with the herpetological and the mammal faunas; for such assistance we desire to record our thanks.