BLD AVL ALA AL UDR RE RUEL RU RV AV AV AV OV AV ALOR ie Piri Dyce B ors cue DY sqnt Bruna rena ee raat Wiranae DP9 90a Or AW'¢ CN > My s 1 + yt x é R2] 31 “hie al?é 5 lhe dps ay $\\ H 1 2} scl oh\ S| 6] t M4 P >} ) ES a ‘ id WOES “\) ais & \ ai 4 Sei 7 ON 2 % a BS c ag 2 g Ss es 2 } 3 a 4 4) g ae ‘ s ops $' 3 } aN ) é eS ‘ aly aii TE Cunt ULLLER AEDEZ LLELOR NULLA (El CRtrak toe ed i ENG NES A Wane’ ON PASE OR EN ~) = povigherieett-4> ae FIN tate cate aaaae asary nr pctisr ertine mere miaien sr gerne” ee ae wer ea Bequest of S. Stillman Berry — aa) ¥ a aE ASABA a aa AAAAY AA, DAA A Aye ; / Pi s | _—s . + ‘* “e. 7. oF 4 . 4 i ts ” ae i % a a Se ‘e » ™ 7 Bid > 7 i > ae ' F y 7 r - Pa 7 : se if. . ¢ ; : oo”, sd —__§6 | l'lhae THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. VOL, I. THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS WITH A STUDY OF THE RELATIONS OF LIVING AND EXTINCT FAUNAS AS ELUCIDATING THE PAST CHANGES OF THE EARTHS SURFACE. BY ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO,” ETC, WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, IN TWO VOLUMES.—VOLUME I], London: MACMILLAN AND CO. 1876. [The Right of Translation and Reproduction 1s Reserved. } LONDON = R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, BREAD STREET HILL, CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. PART III. (continued). ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY: A REVIEW OF THE CHIEF FORMS OF ANIMAL LIFE IN THE SEVERAL REGIONS AND SUB-REGIONS, WITH THE INDICATIONS THEY AFFORD OF GEOGRAPHICAL MU- TATIONS. CHAPTER XIV. THE NEOTROPICAL REGION, General Zoological Features of the Neotropical Region (p. 5)—Distinctive Charac- ters of Neotropical Mammalia (p. 6)—Of Neotropical Birds (p. 7)—Neotropical Reptiles (p. 9)—Fresh-water Fishes (p. 12)—Insects (p. 138)—Coleoptera (p. 15) —Land Shells (p. 19)—Marine Shells (p. 20)—Brazilian Sub-region (p. 21)— Its Mammalia (p. 23)—Its Birds (p. 24)—Islands of Tropical South America, Galapagos (p. 29)—Chilian Sub-region (p. 36)—Birds (p. 38)—Reptiles and Amphibia (p. 40)—Fresh-water Fishes (p. 42)—Lepidoptera (p. 42)—Coleoptera (p. 44)—Islands of South Temperate America (p. 49)—Mexican Sub-region (p. 51)—Mammalia and Birds (p. 52)—Reptiles and Fishes (p. 54)—Insects (p. 55)—Relations of the Mexican Sub-region to the North and South American Continents (p. 57)—Islands of the Mexican Sub-region (p. 59)—The Antillean Sub-region (p. 60)—Its Mammalia (p. 62)—Its Birds (p. 64)—Table of the Resident Land Birds of the Antilles (p. 68)—Reptiles (p. 72)—Insects (p. 73) —Land Shells (p. 75)—Past History of the Antilles (p. 78)—Summary of the Past History of the Neotropical Region (p. 80)—Table I. Families of Animals inhabiting the Neotropical Region (p. 85)—Table IT. Genera of Terrestrial Mammalia and Birds of the Neotropical Region (p. 91). : . 1—113 vi CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAPTER XY. THE NEARCTIC REGION. Zoological Characteristics of the Nearctic Region (p. 115)—List of Typical Ne- arctic Genera of Land Birds (p. 118)—Summary of Nearctic Vertebrata (p. 120) —Insects (p. 122)—Terrestrial and Fluviatile Mollusca (p. 124)—The Califor- nian Sub-region (p. 127)—The Rocky Mountain Sub-region (p. 129)—The Alleghany Sub-region (p. 131) -The Bermudas (p. 134)—The Canadian Sub- region (p. 135)—Greenland (p. 138)—Table I. Families of Animals inhabiting the Nearctic Region (p. 140)—Table II. Genera of Terrestrial Mammalia and Birds of the Nearctic Region (p. 145). . : : 3 - L14—153 CHAPTER XVI. SUMMARY OF THE PAST CHANGES AND GENERAL RELATIONS OF THE SEVERAL REGIONS : ; ; ; ; . ; A ; ‘ . 154—164 > PART IV, GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY: A SYSTEMATIC SKETCH OF THE CHIEF FAMILIES OF LAND ANIMALS IN THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL RELA- TIONS. INTRODUCTION . ‘ : A ‘ : : : : E . 167—169 CHAPTER XVII. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FAMILIES AND GENERA OF MAMMALIA. Primates (p. 170)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Primates (p. 179)— Chiroptera (p. 181)—Remarks on the Distribution of Chiroptera (p. 185)— Insectivora (p. 186)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Insectivora (p. 191)—Carnivora (p. 192)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Carnivora (p. 204)—Cetacea (p. 207)—Sirenia (p. 210)—Ungulata (p. 211)— General Remarks on the Distribution of the Ungulata (p. 226)—Proboscidea (p. 227)—Hyracoidea (p. 228)—Rodeatia (p. 229)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Rodentia (p. 243)—Edentata (p. 244)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Edentata (p. 247)—Marsupialia (p. 248)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Marsupialia (p. 253)—Monotremata (p. 253) 170—254 CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. vil CHAPTER XVIII. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FAMILIES AND GENERA OF BIRDS, Passeres (p. 255)—-General Remarks on the Distribution of the Passeres (p. 299)— Picariz (p. 302)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Picariw (p. 322) —Psittaci (p. 8324)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Psittaci (p. 829)—Columbe (p. 831)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Columbe (p. 335)—Galline (p. 337)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Galline (p. 344)—Opisthocomi (p. 345)—Accipitres (p. 345)—General Re-« marks on the Distribution of the Accipitres (p. 351)—Gralle (p. 351)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Gralle (p. 362)—Anseres (p. 363)—-General Remarks on the Distribution of the Anseres (p. 367)—Struthiones (p. 368)— Struthious Birds recently Extinct (p. 369)—General Remarks on the Distri- bution of the Struthiones (p. 370) : : : : P » 265—371 CHAPTER XIX. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FAMILIES AND GENELKA OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIA, Ophidia(p. 872) —General Remarks on the Distribution of Ophidia (p. 386)— Lacertilia (p. 8388)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Lacertilia (p. 403) —Rhyncocephalina (p. 405)—Crocodilia (p. 405)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Crocodilia (p. 406)—Chelonia (p. 407)—Remarks on the Dis- tribution of Chelonia (p. 410)—Amphibia, Pseudophidia (p. 411)—Urodela (p. 411)—Anura (p. 414)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Amphibia (p0422) ewe Sw BDO CHAPTER XX. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FAMILIES OF FISHES, WITH THE RANGE OF SUCH GENERA AS INHABIT FRESH WATER, Acanthopterygii (p. 424)—Acanthopterygii Pharyngognathi (p. 487)—Anacan- thini (p. 439)—Physostomi (p. 441)—Lophobranchii (p. 456)—Plectognathi (p. 457) Sirenoidei (p. 458)—Ganoidei (p. 458)—Chondropterygii (p. 460)— Cyclostomata (p. 463)—Leptocardii (p. 464)—Remarks on the Distribution of Fishes (p. 464). : : F : . : ; , . 424--467 vill CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAPTER XXL. THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT FAMILIES AND GENERA OF INSECTS, Lepidoptera (p. 470)—General Remarks on the Distribution of the Diurnal Lepi- doptera and Sphingidea (p. 483)—Coleoptera (p. 486)—Cicindelide (p. 486)— Carabide (p. 488)—Lucanide (p. 492)—Cetoniide (p. 494)—Buprestids (p. 495) —Longicornia (p. 498)—General Observations on the Distribution of Coleoptera (p. 502) 2 : ¢ : : P : : . 468—503 CHAPTER XXII. AN OUTLINE OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MOLLUSCA, Cephalopoda (p. 505)——-Gasteropoda (p. 507)—Pulmonifera (p. 512)—General Observations on the Distribution of Land Mollusca (p. 522)—Pteropoda (p. 581)—Brachiopoda (p. 532) —Conchifera (p. 533)—General Remarks on the Distribution of Marine Mollusca (p. 537). : : : . 504—539 CHAPTER XXIII. SUMMARY OF TIE DISTRIBUTION AND LINES OF MIGRATION OF THE SEVERAL CLASSES OF ANIMALS, Mammalia (p. 540)—Lines of Migration of the Mammalia (p. 544)—Birds (p. 545) Reptiles (p. 547)—Amphibia (p. 548)—Fresh-water Fishes (p. 549)—Insects (p. 550)—Terrestrial Mollusca (p. 551)—Conelusion (p, 552) . .p40—553 GENERAL INDEX : : ; ; ‘ ; ; : , , . 57 co MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. II. Map of the Neotropical Region Plate Plate Plate Plate XIV. RY: XVI. XVII. A Brazilian Forest with Characteristic Mammalia . A Scene on the Upper Amazon, with some Characteristic Birds The Chilian Andes, with Characteristic Animals A Scene in Cuba, with Characteristic Animals Map of the Nearctic Region Plate XVIII. Scene in California with some Characteristic Birds . Plate Plate VOL: XIX. The North American Prairies with Characteristic Mammalia XX. A Canadian Forest with Characteristic Mammalia iO ERRATA IN VOL. II. As in Vol. I. mis-spellings are not given here, being mostly corrected in the Index. Page 111, No. 642, for 1 read 2. 111, No. 648, for 15 read 9. 267, line 7, add Borneo, 276, line 10, for 16 Genera read 11 Genera. »» 3, 8 lines from foot, for Drepanorivis read Neodrepanis. 291, & lines from foot, for Sayornis read Himpidius. THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. PART LIT. (continued) ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY: A REVIEW OF THE CHIEF FORMS OF ANIMAL LIFE IN THE SEVERAL REGIONS AND SUB-REGIONS, WITH THE INDICA- TIONS THEY AFFORD OF GEOGRAPHICAL MUTATIONS. VOR. i. b) é INGE ORT ER OF PoC ALL Seale | inch=L000 miles 3, Galapagos: . - Is. Albemarle® 5s | qhatham ~: sot Copiape, st EXPLANATION Terrestrial Contours i SANTILLEANR F ee Es: an = oO x00 Be = OL! . = m REGION 10 From Sea level to LOVO teet White L000 feet to 2.500 EEE I 2,500 . 5.000 ENS) |} . 5,000 10,000 SSE i) 10.000 20,000 ai || Above 20,000 feet teu 3 | RRS | Gf Petias ..- SX | The Marine Contour of 1,000 feet FS ANN ¢ PE& R. Deka re ) } =e / || Desert || The boundaries and reterence numbers |, of the Sub-regions are shewn in Red. | é ————— || is shewn by a dotted line Pts Julien | Y } 50} —— TRS Guz |e? \ = | Pasture lands shewn thits { J \ pasuntin N Sedeuleg / Forest ‘ LE atiland Io. 120 no London ; Macmillan & Co. Stanfords Geographical FE stab* London CHAPTER XIV. THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. Tits region, comprehending not only South America but Tropical North America and the Antilles, may be compared as to extent with the Ethiopian region ; but it is distinguished from all the other great zoological divisions of the globe, by the small pro- portion of its surface occupied by deserts, by the large proportion of its lowlands, and by the altogether unequalled extent and luxuriance of its tropical forests. It further possesses a erand mountain range, rivalling the Himalayas in altitude and far surpassing them in extent, and which, being wholly situated within the region and running through eighty degrees of latitude, offers a variety of conditions and an extent of mountain slopes, of lofty plateaus and of deep valleys, which no other tropical re- gion can approach. It has a further advantage in a southward prolongation far into the temperate zone, equivalent to a still greater extension of its lofty plateaus; and this has, no doubt, aided the development of the peculiar alpine forms of life which abound in the southern Andes. Tue climate of this region is exceptionally favourable. Owing to the lofty mountain range situated along its western margin, the moisture-laden trade winds from the Atlantic have free access to the interior, A sufficient proportion of this moisture reaches the higher slopes of the Andes, where its condensation gives rise to innumerable streams, which cut deep ravines and carry down such an amount of sediment, that they have formed the vast plains of the Amazon, of Para- B 2 + ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. guay, and of the Orinooko out of what were once, no doubt, arms of the sea, separating the large islands of Guiana, Brazil, and the Andes. From these concurrent favourable conditions, there has resulted that inexhaustible variety of generic and specific forms with a somewhat limited range of family and ordinal types, which characterise neotropical zoology to a degree nowhere else to be met with. Together with this variety and richness, there is a remarkable uniformity of animal life over all the tropical continental portions of the region, so that its division into sub-regions is a matter of some difficulty. There is, however, no doubt about separating the West Indian islands as forming a well-marked subdivision ; characterised, not only by that poverty of forms which is a ceneral feature of ancient insular groups, but also by a number of peculiar generic types, some of which are quite foreign to the remainder of the region. We must exclude, however, the islands of Trinidad, Tobago, and a few other small islands near the coast, which zoologically form a part of the main land. Again, the South Temperate portion of the continent, together with the high plateaus of the Andes to near the equator, form a well-marked subdivision, characterised by a peculiar fauna, very distinct both positively and negatively from that of the tropical lowland dis- tricts. The rest of Tropical South America is so homogeneous in its forms of life that it cannot be conveniently subdivided for the purposes of a work like the present. There are, no doubt, con- siderable differences in various parts of its vast area, due partly to its having been once separated into three or more islands, in part to existing diversities of physical conditions; and more exact knowledge may enable us to form several provinces or perhaps additional sub-regions. A large proportion of the genera, how- ever, when sufficiently numerous in species, range over almost the whole extent of this sub-region wherever the conditions are favourable. Even the Andes do not seem to form such a barrier as has been supposed. North of the equator, where its western slopes are moist and forest-clad, most of the genera are found on both sides. To the south of this line its western valleys are arid and its lower plains almost deserts; and thus the absence of a psi CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 5 number of groups to which verdant forests are essential, can be traced to the unsuitable conditions rather than to the existence of the mountain barrier. All Tropical South America, therefore, is here considered to form but one sub-region. The portion of North America that lies within the tropics, closely resembles the last sub-region in general zoological features. It possesses hardly any positive distinctions; but there are several of a negative character, many important groups being wholly confined to South America. On the other hand many genera range into Mexico and Guatemala from the north, which never reach South America; so that it is convenient to separate this district as a sub-region, which forms, to some extent, a transition to the Nearctic region. General Zoological Features of the Neotropical Region.—Rich- ness combined with isolation is the predominant feature of Neotropical zoology, and no other region can approach it in the number of its peculiar family and generic types. It has eight families of Mammalia absolutely confined te it, besides several others which are rare elsewhere. These consist of two families of monkeys, Cebidee and Hapalidee, both abounding in genera and species; the Phyllostomidz, or blood-sucking bats ; Chinchillide and Caviide among rodents; besides the greater part of the Octodontide, Echimyidz and Cercolabide, Among edentata, it has Bradypodidee, or sloths, Dasypodide, or armadillos, and Myrmecophagide, or anteaters, constituting nearly the entire order; while Procyonidie, belonging to the carnivora, and Didel- phyide, a family of marsupials, only extend into the Nearctic region. It has also many peculiar groups of carnivora and of Muride, making a total of full a hundred genera confined to the region. Hardly less remarkable is the absence of many wide- spread groups. With the exception of one genus in the West Indian islands and a Sorex which reaches Guatemala and Costa Rica, the Insectivora are wholly wanting ; as is also the extensive and wide-spread family of the Viverride. It has no oxen or sheep, and indeed no form of ruminant except deer and Ilamas ; neither do its vast forests and grassy plains support a single form of non-ruminant ungulate, except the tapir and the peccary. 6 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III; Birds.—In birds, the Neotropical region is even richer and more isolated. It possesses no less than 23 families wholly confined within its limits, with 7 others which only extend into the Nearc- tic region. The names of the peculiar families are : Cerebidee, or sugar-birds; Phytotomide, or plant-cutters; Pipride, or mana- kins; Cotingide, or chatterers; Formicariide, or ant-thrushes ; Dendrocolaptide, or tree-creepers ; Pteroptochidee ; Rhamphas- tide, or toucans; Bucconide, or puff-birds ; Galbulide, or jaca- mas; Todide, or todies; Momotide, or motmots; Steatornithide. the guacharo, or oil-vird; Cracidee, or curassows; Tinamide, or tinamous ; Opisthocomide, the hoazin ; Thinocoride ; Cariamidee Aramid; Psophiidee, or trumpeters ; Eurypygidee, or sun-bitterns ; and Palamedeide, or horned-screamers. The seven which it possesses in common with North America are: Vireonide, or ereenlets ; Mniotiltide, or wood-warblers ; Tanagride, or tana- gers; Icteridee, or hang-nests; ‘l'yrannide, or tyrant-shrikes ; Trochilidze, or humming-birds ; and Conuride, or macaws. Most of these families abound in genera and species, and many are of immense extent ; such as Trochilidz, with 115 genera, and nearly 400 species; Tyrannidee, with more than 60 genera and nearly 300 species ; Tanagride, with 45 genera and 300 species ; Den- drocolaptidee with 43 genera and more than 200 species; and many other very large groups. There are nearly 600 genera peculiar to the Neotropical region ; but in using this number as a basis of comparison with other regions we must remember, that owing to several ornithologists having made the birds of South America a special study, they have perhaps been more minutely subdivided than in the case of other entire tropical regions. Distinctive Characters of Neotropical Mammalia,—lt is im- portant also to consider the kind and amount of difference between the various animal forms of this region and of the Old World. To begin with the Quadrumana, all the larger American monkeys (Cebidee) differ from every Old World group in the possession of an additional molar tooth in each jaw; and it is in this group alone that the tail is developed into a prehen- sile organ of wonderful power, adapting the animals to a purely arboreal life. Four of the genera, comprising more than half the CHAP. XIV. | THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 7 species, have the prehensile tail, the remainder having this organ either short, or lax as in the Old World monkeys. Other dif- ferences from Old World apes, are the possession of a broad nasal septum, and a less opposable thumb; and the absence of cheek- pouches, ischial callosities, and a bony ear-tube. The Hapalide, or marmozets, agree with the Cebidz in all these characters, but have others in addition which still more widely separate them from the Simiidee; such as an additional premolar tooth, acute claws, and thumb not at all opposable ; so that the whole group of American monkeys are radically different from the remainder of the order. The Procyonidé are a distinct family of Carnivora, which make up for the scarcity of Mustelidz in South America. The Suide are represented by the very distinct genus Dicotyles(Peccary) form- ing a separate sub-family, and differing from all other genera in their dentition, the absence of tail and of one of the toes of the hind feet, the possession of a dorsal gland, and only two mammee. The rodents are represented by the Chinchillidz and Caviide, the latter comprising the largest animals in the order. The Edentata are almost wholly confined to this region ; and the three families of the sloths (Bradypodidee), armadillos (Dasypodide), and ant-eaters (Myrmecophagidie), are widely separated in struc- ture from any Old World animals. Lastly, we have the opessums (Didelphyide), a family of marsupials, but having no close afli- nity to any of the numerous Australian forms of that order. We have already arrived at the conclusion that the presence of marsupials in South America is not due to any direct transfer- ence from Australia, but that their introduction is comparatively recent, and that they came from the Old World by way of North America (vol.1, p.155). But the numerous and deep-seated peculiarities of many other of its mammal, would indicate a very remote origin; and a long-continued isolation of South America from the rest of the world is required, in order to account for the preservation and development of so many distinct groups of comparatively low-type quadrupeds. Distinctive Characters of Neotropical Birds—The birds which are especially characteristic of this region, present similar distinctive features. In the enormous group of Passerine 8 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III, birds which, though comprising nearly three-fourths of the entire class, yet presents hardly any well-marked differences of structure by which it can be subdivided—the families confined to America are, for the most part, more closely related to each other than to the Old World groups. The ten families forming the group of “Formicaroid Passeres,” in our arrangement (vol. i, p. 94), are characterised by the absence of singing muscles in the larynx, and also by an unusual development of the first primary quill; and seven of this series of families (which are considered to be less perfectly developed than the great mass of Old World passeres) are exclusively American, the three belonging to the Eastern hemisphere being of small extent. Another group of ten families—our “ Tanagroid Passeres,” are characterised by the abortion or very rudimentary condition of the first quill; and of these, five are exclusively American, and have numerous genera and species, while only two are non-American, and these are of small extent. On the other hand the “ Turdoid Passeres,” con- sisting of 23 families and comprising all the true “ singing-birds,” is poorly represented in America; no family being exclusively Neotropical, and only three being at all fully represented in South America, though they comprise the great mass of the Old World passeres. These peculiarities, which group together whole series of families of American birds, point to early separation and long isolation, no less surely than the more remarkable structural divergences presented by the Neotropical mammalia. In the Picariz, we have first, the toucans (Rhamphastide) ; an extraordinary and beautiful family, whose enormous gaily- coloured bills and long feathered tongues, separate them widely from all other birds. The Galbulide or jacamars, the motmots (Momotide), and the curious little todies (Todide) of the Antilles, are also isolated groups. But most remarkable of all is the wonderful family of the humming-birds, which ranges over all America from Tierra del Fuego to Sitka, and from the level plains of the Amazon to above the snow-line on the Andes ; which abounds both in genera, species, and individuals, and is yet strictly confined to this continent alone! How vast must have been the time required to develop those beautiful and CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 9 highly specialized forms out of some ancestral swift-like type. how complete and long continued the isolation of their birth- place to have allowed of their modification and adaptation to such divergent climates and conditions, yet never to have per- mitted them to establish themselves in the other continents. No naturalist can study in detail this single family of birds, without being profoundly impressed with the vast antiquity of the South American continent, its long isolation from the rest of the land surface of the globe, and the persistence through countless ages of all the conditions requisite for the development and increase of varied forms of animal life. Passing on to the parrot tribe, we find the peculiar family of the Conuride, of which the macaws are the highest development, very largely represented. Itis in the gallinaceous birds however that we again meet with wholly isolated groups. The Cracidee, in- cluding the curassows and guans, have no immediate relations with any of the Old World families. Professor Huxley considers them to approach nearest to (though still very remote from) the Australian megapodes; and here, as in the case of the marsu- pials, we probably have divergent modifications of an ancient type once widely distributed, not a direct communication between the southern continents. The Tinamide or tinamous, point to a still more remote antiquity, since their nearest allies are believed to be the Struthiones or ostrich tribe, of which a few repre- sentatives are scattered widely over the globe. The hoazin of Guiana (Opisthocomus) is another isolated form, not only the type of a family, but perhaps of an extinct order of birds. Pass- ing on to the waders, we have a number of peculiar family types, all indicative of antiquity and isolation. The Cariama of the plains of Brazil, a bird somewhat intermediate between a bustard and a hawk, is one of these; the elegant Psophia or trumpeter of the Amazonian forests; the beautiful little sun-bittern of the river banks (Hurypyga) ; and the horned screamers (Palamedea), all form distinct and isolated families of birds, to which the Old World offers nothing directly comparable. Reptiles—The Neotropical region is very rich in varied forms of reptile life, and the species are very abundant. It has six 10 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. altogether peculiar families, and several others which only range into the Nearctic region, as well as a very large number of pecu- har or characteristic genera. As the orders of reptiles differ considerably in their distributional features, they must be con- sidered separately. The snakes (Ophidia) differ from all other reptiles, and from most other orders of vertebrates, in the wide average distribution of the families; so that such an isolated region as the Neotrop- ical possesses no peculiar family, nor even one confined to the American continent. The families of most restricted range are— the Scytalidee, only found elsewhere in the Philippine islands; the Amblycephalidee, common to the Oriental and Neotropical regions ; and the Tortricide, most abundant in the Oriental region, but found also in the Austro-Malay islands and Tropical South America. Sixteen of the families of snakes occur in the region, the Colubride, Amblycephalidee, and Pythonidz, being those which are best represented by peculiar forms. There are 25 pecu- liar or characteristic genera, the most important being Dromicus (Colubridee) ; Boa, Epicrates, and Ungalia (Pythonide) ; Hlaps (Elapidee) ; and Craspedocephalus (Crotalide). The lizards (Lacertilia) are generally more restricted in their range; hence we find that out of 15 familes which inhabit the region, 5 are altogether peculiar, and 4 more extend only to N. America. The peculiar families are Helodermidee, Anadiade, Chirocolidee, Iphisiadee, and Cercosauride ; but it must be noted that these all possess but a single genus each, and only two of them (Chirocolidee and Cercosauridee) have more than a single species. The families which range over both South and North America are Chirotide, Chalcidee, Teidee, and Iewanidee; the first and second are of small extent, but the other two are very large groups, the Teidee possessing 12 genera and near 80 species; the Iguanide 40 genera and near 150 species; the greater part of which are Neotropical. There are more than 50 peculiar or highly characteristic genera of lizards, about 40 of which belong to the Teidz and Iguanide, which thus especially characterize the region. The most important and characteristic genera are the following : Ameiva (Teidee) ; Gymnopthalmus (Gymnopthalnide) ; CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 11 Celestus and Diploglossus (Scincide) ; Spherodactylus (Gecko- tide) ; Liocephalus, Liolemus, Proctotretus, and many smaller genera (Iguanide). The three extensive Old World families Varanide, Lacertidie, and Agamidee, are absent from the entire American continent. In the order Crocodilia, America has the peculiar family of the alligators (Alligatoride), as well as several species of true crocodiles (Crocodilide). The Chelonia (tortoises) are repre- sented by the families Testudinide and Chelydide, both of wide range; but there are six peculiar genera,—Dermatemys and Stau- rotypus belonging to the former family,—Peltocephalus, Podo- enemis, Hydromedusa, and Chelys, to the latter. Some of the Amazon river-turtles of the genus Podocnemys rival in size the largest species of true marine turtles (Cheloniide), and are equally good for food. Amphibia—The Neotropical region possesses representatives of sixteen families of Amphibia of which four are peculiar; all belonging to Anoura or tailless Batrachians. The Cvciliadie or snake-like amphibia, are represented by two pecuhar genera, Siphonopsis and Rhinatrema. Tailed Batrachians are almost unknown, only a few species of Spelerpes (Salamandridie) enter- ing Central America, and one extending as far south as the Andes of Bogota in South America. Tail-less Batrachians on the other hand, are abundant ; there being 14 families repre- sented, of which 4,—Rhinophryndee, Hylapleside, Plectroman- tide, and Pipidee are peculiar. None of these families contain more than a single genus, and only the second more than a single species; so that it is not these which give a character to the South American Amphibia-fauna. The most important and best represented families are, Ranidie (true frogs), with eleven genera and more than 50 species; Polypedatidie (tree-frogs) with seven genera and about 40 species; Hylide (tree-frogs) with eight genera and nearly 30 species; Engystomide (toads) (5 genera), Bombinatoridee (frogs), (4 genera), Phryniscidee and Bufonidee (toads), (each with 2 genera), are also fairly represen- ted. All these families are widely distributed, but the Neotrepi- eal genera are, in almost every case, peculiar. 12 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. — [rarr ut, Fresh-water fishes.—The great rivers of Tropical America abound in fish of many strange forms and peculiar types. Three fami- lies, and three sub-family groups are peculiar, while the number of pecuhar genera is about 120. The peculiar families are Poly- centride, with two genera; Gymnotidee, a family which includes the electric eels, (5 genera); and Trygonide, the rays, which are everywhere marine except in the great rivers of South America, where many species are found, belonging to two genera. Of the extensive family Siluride, three sub-families Siluridze anomalo- ptere, S. olisthoptere, and S. branchiole, are confined to this region. The larger and more important of the peculiar genera are the following: Percilia, inhabiting Chilian and Percichthys South Temperate rivers, belong to the Perch family (Percide) ; Acharnes, found only in Guiana, belongs to the Nandide, a family of wide range in the tropics ; the Chromide, a family of exclusively fresh-water fishes found in the tropics of the Ethio- pian, Oriental and Neotropical regions, are here represented by 15 genera, the more important being Acara (17 sp.), Heros (26 sp.), Crenicichla (9 sp.), Satanoperca (7 sp.). Many of these fishes are beautifully marked and coloured. The Siluride proterop- tere are represented by 14 genera, of which Pimelodus (42 sp.), and Platystoma (11 sp.), are the most important; the Siluride stenobranchie by 11 genera, the chief being Doras (13 sp.), Auchenipterus (9 sp.), and Oxydoras (7 sp.). The Siluride pro- teropodes are represented by 16 genera, many of them being among the most singular of fresh-water fishes, clothed in coats of mail, and armed with hooks and serrated spines. The following are the most important—Chetostomus (25 sp.), Loricaria (17 sp.), Plecostonus (15 sp.) and Callichthys (11 sp.). The Characinidee are divided between Tropical America and Tropical Africa, the former possessing about 40 genera and 200 species. The Hap- lochitonidze are confined to South America and Australia; the American genus being Haplochiton. ‘The Cyprinodontide are represented by 18 genera, the most important being, Pewcilia (16 sp.), Girardimus. (10 sp.), and Gambusia (8 sp.) The Osteoglos- side, found in Australian and African rivers, are represented in South America by the peculiar Arapaima, the “pirarucu” of the CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 13 Amazon. ‘The ancient Sirenoidei, also found in Australia and Africa, have the Zepidosiven as their American representative. Lastly, Hllipisurus is a genus of rays peculiar to the fresh waters of South America. We may expect these numbers to be largely increased and many new genera to be added, when the extensive collections made by Agassiz in Brazil are described. Summary of Neotropical Vertebrates——Sunmarizing the pre- ceding facts, we find that the Neotropical region possesses no less than 45 families and more than 900 genera of Vertebrata which are altogether peculiar to it; while it has representatives of 168 families out of a total of 350, showing that 162 families are altogether absent. It has also representatives of 131 genera of Mammalia of which 103 are peculiar to it, a proportion of 4; while of 683 genera of land-birds no less than 576 are peculiar, being almost exactly 3 of the whole. These numbers and pro- portions are far higher than in the case of any other region. Insects. The Neotropical region is so excessively rich in insect life, it so abounds in peculiar groups, in forms of exquisite beauty, and in an endless profusion of species, that no adequate idea of this branch of its fauna can be conveyed by the mere enumera- tion of peculiar and characteristic groups, to which we are here compelled to limit ourselves. Our facts and figures will, how- ever, furnish data for comparison; and will thus enable those who have some knowledge of the entomology of any other country, to form a better notion of the vast wealth of insect ‘life in this region, than a more general and picturesque description could afford them. Lepidoptera.—The Butterflies of South America surpass those of all other regions in numbers, variety and beauty; and we find here, not only more peculiar genera and families than else- where, but, what is very remarkable, a fuller representation of the whole series of families. Out of the 16 families of butter- flies in all parts of the world, 13 are found here, and 3 of these are wholly peculiar—Brassolide, Heliconide, and Eurygonide, with a fourth, Erycinide, which only extends into the Nearctic 14 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART If region ; so that there are 4 families peculiar to America. These four families comprise 68 genera and more than 800 species ; alone constituting a very important feature in the entomology of the region. But in almost all the other families there are numbers of peculiar genera, amounting in all to about 200, or not far short of half the total number of genera in the world— (451). We must briefly notice some of the peculiarities of the several families, as represented in this region. The Danaidee consist of 15 genera, all pecuhar, and differing widely from the generally sombre-tinted forms of the rest of the world. The delicate transparent-winged Ithomias of which 160 species are described, are the most remarkable. Melinwa, Napeogenes, Ceratina and Dircenna are more gaily coloured, and are among the chief ornaments of the forests. The Satyride are repre- sented hy 25 peculiar genera, many of great beauty; the most remarkable and elegant being the genus Hetera and its allies, whose transparent wings are delicately marked with patches of orange, pink, or violet. The genus Morpho is perhaps the erandest development of the butterfly type, beige of immense size and adorned with the most brilliant azure tints, which in some species attain a splendour of metallic lustre unsurpassed in nature. The Brassolidee are even larger, but are crepuscular insects, with rich though sober colouring. The true Heliconii are magnificent insects, most elegantly marked with brilliant and strongly contrasted tints. The Nymphalide are represented by such a variety of gorgeous insects that it is difficult to select examples. Prominent are the genera Catagramma and Callithea, whose exquisite colours and symmetrical markings are unique and indescribable; and these are in some cases rivalled by Agrias and Prepona, which reproduce their style of coloration although not closely allied to them. The Erycinide, consisting of 59 genera and 560 species, comprise the most varied and beautiful of small butterflies ; and it would be useless to attempt to indicate the unimaginable combinations of form and colour they present. It must be sufficient to say that nothing elsewhere on the globe at all resembles them. In Lycznide the world- wide genus Thecla is wonderfully developed, and the South CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 15 American species not only surpass all others in size and beauty, but some of them are so gorgeous on the under surface of their wings, as to exceed almost all the combinations of metallic tints we meet with in nature. The last family, Hesperide, is also wonderfully developed here, the species being excessively nu- merous, While some of them redeem the character of this generally sober family, by their rich and elegant coloration. In the only other group of Lepidoptera we can here notice, the Sphingina, the Neotropical region possesses some peculiar forms. The magnificent diurnal butterfly-like moths, Urania, are the most remarkable ; and they are rendered more interesting by the occurrence of a species closely resembling them in Madagascar. Another family of day-flying moths, the Castniidee, is almost equally divided between the Neotropical and Australian regions, although the genera are more numerous in the latter. The American Castnias are large, thick-bodied insects, with a coarse scaly surface and rich dull colours; differing widely from the glossy and gaily coloured Agaristas, which are typical of the family in the East. Coleoptera.—This is so vast a subject that, asin the case of the regions already treated, we must confine our attention to a few of the more important and best known families as representatives of the entire order. Cicindelidae.— We find here examples of 15 out of the 35 genera of these insects ; and 10 of these generaare peculiar. The most important are Oxychila (11 sp.), Hiresia (14 sp.), and Ctenostoma (26 sp.). Odontochila (57 sp.) is the most abundant and cha- racteristic of all, but is not wholly peculiar, there being a species in the Malay archipelago. T'etrucha, another large genus, has species in Australia and a few in North America and Europe. The small genus Peridexia is divided between Brazil and Mada- gascar,—a somewhat similar distribution to that of Urania noticed above. One genus, dAgrius, is confined to the southern extremity ot the continent. Carabidee.—Besides a considerable number of cosmopolitan or wide-spread genera, this family is represented by more than 100 genera which are peculiar to the Neotropical region. The 16 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. most important of these are Agra (150 sp.), Ardistonus (44 sp.), Schizogenius (25 sp.), Pelecium (24 sp.), Calophena (22 sp.), As- pidoglossa (21 sp.), and Lia, Camptodonotus, Stenocrepis, and Lachnophorus, with each more than 12 species. These are all tropical ; but there are also a number of genera (26) peculiar to Chili and South Temperate America. The most important of these are Antarctia (29 sp.), all except two or three confined to South Temperate America; Scelodontis (10 sp.), mostly Chilan ; Feronomorpha (6 sp.) all Chilian; and Tvopidopterus (4 sp.), all Chilian. Hellwomorpha (18 sp.), is confined to North and South America; Galerita, Callida, and Tetragonoderus, are large genera which are chiefly South American but with a few species scat- tered over the other tropical regions. Casnonia and Lebia are cosmopolite, but most abundant in South America. Pachyteles is mostly South American but with a few species in West Africa ; while Zobodonotus has one species in South America and two in Africa. Lucanide.—The Neotropical species of this family almost all belong to peculiar genera. Those common to other regions are Syndesus, confined to Tropical South America and Australia, and Platycerus which is Palearctic and Nearctic, with one species in Brazil. The most remarkable genus is undoubtedly Chiasogna- thus, confined to Chili. These are large insects of metallic green colours, and armed with enormous serrated mandibles. The allied genera, Pholidotus and Sphenognathus, inhabit Tropical South America. Streptocerus confined to Chili, is interesting, as being allied to the Australian Lamprima. The other genera present no remarkable features ; but Sclerognathus and Leptino- ptera are the most extensive. Cetoniide.—These magnificent insects are but poorly repre- sented in America; the species being mostly of sombre colours. There are 14 genera, 12 of which are peculiar. The most exten- sive genus is Gymmnetis, which, with its allies Cotinis and -Allor- hina, form a group which comprehends two-thirds of the Neotro- pical species of the family. The only other genera of importance are, Inca (7 sp.), remarkable for their large size, and being the only American group in which horns are developed on the head ; CHAP, XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 17 and Trigonopeltastes (6 sp.), allied to the European Zvichius. The non-peculiar genera are, Stethodesma, of which half the species are African and half tropical American; and Huphoria, confined to America both North and South. Buprestide.—In this fine group the Neotropical region is tolerably rich, having examples of 39 genera, 18 of which are peculiar to it. Of these, the most extensive are Conognatha and Halecia, which have a wide range over most parts of the region ; and Dactylozodes, confined to the south temperate zone. Of im- portant genera which range beyond the region, Dicerca is mainly Nearctic and Palearctic ; Cinyra has a species in North America and one in Australia; Curis is divided between Chili and Australia ; the Australian genus Stzgmodera has a species in Chili ; Polycesta has a species in Madagascar, two in the Mediterranean region, and a few in North America ; Acherusia is divided between Australia and Brazil; Ptosima has one species in south tempe- rate America, the rest widely scattered from North America to the Philippines ; Actenodes has a single species in North Ame- rica and another in West Africa; Colobogaster has two in West Africa, one in Java and one in the Moluccas. The relations of South America and Australia as indicated by these insects has already been sufficiently noticed under the latter region. Longicornia.—The Neotropical Longicorn Coleoptera are over- whelming in their numbers and variety, their singularity and their beauty. In the recent Catalogue of Gemminger and Harold, it is credited with 516 genera, 489 of which are peculiar to it; while it has only 5 genera in common (exclusively) with the Nearctic, and 4 (in the same way) with the Australian region. Only the more important genera can be here referred to, under the three great families into which these insects are divided. The Prionide are excessively numerous, being grouped in 64 genera, more than double the number possessed by any other region ; and 61 of these are peculiar. The three, common to other regions, are, Parandra and Mallodon, which are widely distributed ; and Hrgates, found also in California and Europe. The most remarkable genera are, the magnificently-coloured Psalidognathus and Pyrodes; the large and strangely marked VOL. II, Cc 18 ’ ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART. III. Macrodontia; and Titanus, the largest insect of the entire family. Of the Cerambycide there are 233 genera, exceeding by one- half, the number in any other region; and 225 of these are peculiar. Only 2 are common to the Neotropical and Nearctic regions exclusively, and 3 to the Neotropical and Australian. The most extensive genera are the elegant Jbidion (80 sp.) ; the richly-coloured Chrysoprasis (47 sp.); the prettily-marked Trachyderes (53 sp.) ; with Odontocera (28 sp.); Criodon (22 sp.) ; and a host of others of less extent, but often of surpassing interest and beauty. The noteworthy genera of wide range are, Ocme and Cyrtomerus, which have each a species in West Africa, and Hammatocerus, which has one in Australia. The Lamiide have 219 genera, and this is the only tropical region in which they do not exceed the Cerambycide. This number is almost exactly the same as that of the Oriental genera, but here there are more peculiar groups, 203 against 160 in the other region. The most extensive genera are Hemilophus (80 sp.), Colobothea (70 sp.), Acanthodcres (56 sp.), Oncoderes (48 sp.), Lepturgus (40 sp.), Hypsioma (82 sp.), and Tentotes (20 sp.). Macropus longimanus, commonly called the harlequin beetle, is one of the largest and most singularly-marked insects in the whole family. Leptostylus has a single species in New Zealand ; Acanthoderes has one species in Europe, W. Africa, and Australia, respectively ; Spalacopsis has a species in W. Africa; Pachypeza is common to S. America and the Philip- pines ; Mesosa is Oriental and Palearctic, but has one species on the Amazon; Apomecyna ranges through the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere, but has two species in S. America; Acan- thocinus has one species in Tasmania, and the rest in South America, North America, and Europe; Phwa is wholly Neo- tropical, except two species in the Philippine Islands. General Conclusions as to the Neotropical Insect-fauna— Looking at the insects of the Neotropical region as a whole, we are struck with the vast amount of specialty they present ;-and, considering how many causes there are which must lead to the dispersal of insects, the number of its groups which are scattered CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 19 over the globe is not nearly so great as we might expect. This points to a long period of isolation, during which the various forms of life have acted and reacted on each other, leading to such a complex yet harmoniously-balanced result as to defy the com- petition of the chance immigrants that from time to time must have arrived. ‘This is quite in accordance with the very high antiquity we have shown most insect-forms to possess; and it is no doubt owing to this antiquity, that such a complete diversity of generic forms has been here brought about, without any important deviation from the great family types which pre- vail over the rest of the globe. Land Shells—The Neotropical region is probably the richest on the globe in Terrestrial Mollusca, but this is owing, not to any extreme productiveness of the equatorial parts of the continent, where almost all other forms of life are so largely developed, but to the altogether exceptional riches of the West India Islands, The most recent estimates show that the Antilles contain more species of land shells than all the rest of the region, and almost exactly as many as all continental America, north and south, Mr. Thomas Bland, who has long studied American land shells, points out a remarkable difference in the distribution of the Operculated and Inoperculated groups, the former being pre- dominant on the islands, the latter on the continent. The Antilles possess over 600 species of Operculata, to about 150 on the whole American continent, the genera being as 22 to 14. Of Inoperculata the Antilles have 740, the Continent 1,250, the genera being 18 and 22. The proportions of the two groups in each country are, therefore: West India Islands. American Continent. Operculata ... .. Gen. 22 Sp. 608 ... - 14 151 Tnoperculata... ue. ne. WS Ay Cy ae we 22 1251 The extensive family of the Helicidz is represented by 22 genera, of which 6 are peculiar. s! tty bo et MH fe er Remarks, re S, American species 1 lve species migrate to Cuba _S. American species N. American species Twelve sp. migrate to W.I. Dominica and Martinique S. American species One species locality unknown One S. American species St. Bartholom. & Martinique Guadeloupe and St. Lucia Martinique and Dominica S. American species One 8S, American species Mexican species St. Lucia, Martinique and Barbadoes 70 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. ‘Number of Species in each Island | 2 7 aire Pisa oe |e ee Family and Genus. | a < SO eis z = Remarks. lies jac BOE goalies A = — = - S52 £2 oH a = ore ct oa |e | S [mala aS ic ar | oa a TYRANNIDS. | : | | F Blainesvey aes eee oe Ao an te 3 Pitaneus” © Gof weet], 285) |) de es 2 : Contopus ee ae —j|;—|1 ];—}1 2 | St. Lucia : . Myiarchus Stee eae. Yost a 1b | 7 | One S. Aierican species (0) Blacicus Pew (eeed || Ms cae 8) 2 Tyrannus 2 |—|—| 1b | 1b | 2b) 3 | Onesp. in Cen. America (5) CoTINGIDs. | | | | Hadrostomus ee ioe tN el a 1 | pare ot PIcipz. | | | | | Campephilus Fae | | | | 2 Niphidiopicus. 1 | i Seal iMelanerpes as, ee, [> ie | oe es fl Poe Chloronerpes —/—j;1 |—|;—}—}1 Centurus 1 | — 1 ;—|—1]838 Colaptes 2 (2a Nesocelous ] — —= }— j= Pl Picumnus —;—|/?l}—;—};—)}1 | CUCULIDE. | | | | | Saunothera | ] =, | pes 7 Family and Genus. S . Is 3: Remarks. | 3 S & 2/2/81] 21g 3 2 = 2 3S \o|/G& |] 8 /& a | ee = 2 | |} ole | TROCHILIDA, Lampornis ... ... | — | —| la! 1 B} MDOVICHR ce eee ee fa ee | oo Eulampis ... ... | —}| —|—|—]1 | 2 | 2 | St. Croix, Dominica, St. | Lucia, Martinique Aithurus eo eS a Lg) eee aT | Mellisuga ... ..{—]—]1 /1 |—|—)}1 Mealiyptere eee, seek fe en igo’ | . ; Orthorhynchus —}—]--|—]1 |2 | 8 | Domin., Martini., St. Lucia Sporadinus ... 1 > le | to) ) 3 | | ConvRIDsz, | | | Ara | 1 | | 1 |S. American species Conurus | }1°|—]—/1 ]1 ]1 |1 |S8t. Thomas | | | | | | PSITTACIDA. | | | Chrysotis 1D heel 2/1 3. | 8 | CoLUMBID&. | Columba il —|1 2 soe 3 | One in Honduras Chameepelia ... See les ee Ae | Zenaida ... 1 |;—)}1 1 1 (2 12 Leptoptila Sal (ice ee ae ee fa Geotrygon 2 }—j,1 /2 ]1 |2 |5 | St. Lucia, Martinique, one | | species Mexican Starnaenas LS ee ee | TETRAONIDS. | | | Ortyx (se gn a net (ee i | | } | | | Fanconipx, | | Accipiter oo... 2 — | — | — | — | —}|2 | Hypotriorchis ... | —|--|—]|1 |—]—J]1 | Mexican species @erchmeis? 3, ac Oy) | a He ;2 | Cymindis ... ...]1 |—/|—{—]—]/—/1 | Polyburus --» {1 |—|—{|—|— |—]1 | Mexican species | | | STRIGIDZ. | Nyctalops ... .../ 1 | —|—|—j|—)/ --/ 1 |S. American species Pseudoscops ... ... | —|—|—/1 |—|—/1 | Gyumnogiaua:... 2.4) 1) —.| — | = 4 | — | 2 | St. Croix and St. Thomas Glaucidium ... 1 | —| — | =e | — | 1 Number of families of resident land-birds in the Antilles ... ... 26 ToTALs 33 y» genera sg ar Sis lane (95 Ho », Species a i ar ae wen 0D 72 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. Reptiles and Amphibia.—These classes not having been systematically collected, and the numerous described genera not having undergone careful revision, little trustworthy information can be derived from them. The following enumeration of the chief groups hitherto noticed or described, will, however, show very similar features to those presented by the birds—a general relation to Neotropical forms, a more special relation to those of Central America and Mexico, and a considerable number of peculiar types. Snakes.—Arrhyton (Calamariide) from Cuba, Hypsirhynchus from Barbadoes, Cryptodacus from Cuba, Zaltris from Hayti, and Coloragia from Cuba (all Colubridé), have been described as genera peculiar to the Antilles. Phylodryas and Dromicus (Colubridee) are Antillean and Neotropical; Ahatulla (Den- drophide) has the same distribution but extends to tropical Africa; Eprcrates and Corallus (Pythonide) are Neotropical and Antillean; while Chilabothrus from Jamaica and Ungalia from Cuba and Jamaica (both Pythonide) are found elsewhere only in Central America and Mexico. There appear to be no Crotalide except an introduced species of Craspedocephalus in St. Lucia. Lizards are more numerous. Ameiva (Teide) is found all over America. Gerrhonotus (Zonuride) is Neotropical and occurs in Cuba; Gymnopthalmus is South American and Antillean. Of Scincide seven genera are noted. Celestus (with 9 species) is peculiar to the Antilles ; Camilia (1 species) to Jamaica, Panoplus (1 species) and Hmbryopus (1 species) to Hayti; Diplogossus is Antilean and South American; while Plestiodon and Mabouya are cosmopolite. Of Geckotide there are four genera ; Phy/lo- dactylus and Hemidactylus which are cosmopolite ; Spharodactylus which is wholly American ; and Cubina found only in Martinique and Brazil. Of Iguanide there are six genera; Anolis, which ranges all over America; Polychrus, which is Neotropical ; Iguana and Liocephalus which are South American; Tropedurus found in Cuba and Brazil; and Cyclura only known from Jamaica, Cuba, and Central America. Amphilia.—The genus Trachycephalus, belonging to the CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 73 Hylide or tropical tree-frogs, is almost peculiar to the Antilles ; Cuba, Hayti, and Jamaica possessing seven species, while only one is recorded from South America. Other genera are, Pelta- phryne (Bufonide) from Portorico ; Phyllobates (Polypedatidee) from Cuba ; Levuperus (Ranide) from Hayti—all Neotropical. Of the Urodela, or tailed batrachians, no representative occurs, although they are so characteristic a feature of the Nearctic region. Fresh-water fish.—The same general remarks apply to these as to the reptiles. Only one peculiar genus is noted—Lebdistes, a form of Cyprinodontide from Barbadoes; other genera of the same family being, Haplochilus, Rivulus, and Girardinus, widely spread in the Neotropical region; while Gambusia is confined to Central America, Mexico, and the Antilles. Four other families are represented; Siluride by Chetostomus, found in Portorico and South America; Chromide by the South American Acara ; Mugillide by the Central American Agonostoma ; and Percide by the North American Centrarchus, of which a species is recorded from Cuba. Insects.—The various West Indian islands have not been well explored entomologically ; one reason no doubt being, that their comparative poverty renders them little attractive to the pro- fessional collector, while the abounding riches of Central and South America he so near at hand. We can, therefore, hardly tell whether the comparative poverty, or even total absence of some families while others seem fairly represented, is a real phenomenon of distribution, or only dependent on imperfect knowledge. Bearing this in mind, we proceed to give a sketch of what is known of the chief groups of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. Lepidoptera—The Neotropical butterfly-fauna is but poorly represented, the majority of the most remarkable types being entirely wanting; yet there are a few peculiar and very charac- teristic forms which show great isolation, while the majority of the species are peculiar. Four genera are exclusively or charac- teristically Antillean,— Calisto belonging to the Satyride, with four species, of which one ranges to South Carolina; Clothilda 74 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART II. (Nymphalide) a fine genus which has 4 Antillean species and 2 in Central America; Zuweinia (Nymphalidee) 2 species, confined to Jamaica and Hayti ; and Aricogonia belonging to the Pieride, which has 2 West Indian species, while 1 inhabits Mexico and Florida. Genera which show a special relation to Central America are Huptoieta, Hwmeus, and Nathalis. Almost all the other genera are South American, the total number recorded in each family as occurring in the West Indian islands, being, 3 of Danaide ; 1 of Heliconiide ; 2 of Satyride ; 18 of Nymphalide ; 1 of Erycinide ; 4 of Lyczenidee ; 6 of Pieride; 1 of Papilio- nid, and 10 of Hesperide. The genus Papilio is represented by about 20 species, 2 of which are North American, 4 South American, while the rest form little characteristic groups allied to those of Central America. The most marked feature seems to be the scarcity of Satyride and the almost total absence of Erycinide, with a great deficiency in characteristic Neotropical forms of Danaidze and Nymphalide. Coleoptera.—Cicindelide and Carabidée are very poorly repre- sented, by a few species of wide-spread groups, and hardly any peculiar genera. No Lucanide are recorded. Of Cetoniide, Gymnetis only appears to be represented. Buprestide seem to be more numerous; 15 genera being recorded, but almost all of wide distribution. One only is peculiar—TZetragonoschoma, found in Hayti ; Halecia is the only exclusively South American genus ; Chalcophora is widely scattered over the tropical regions but is absent from South America, yet it occurs in the Nearctic region and extends to Jamaica and Guadeloupe. We now come to the Longicorns, the only group of Coleoptera which seems to be well represented, or which has been carefully collected. No less than 40 genera are known from the West Indian islands, and 15 of these are peculiar. Prionidee are proportionately very numerous, there being 10 genera, 2 of which are widely dis- tributed in both South and North America, 1 is North American, and 1 South American, while the following are peculiar,— Stenodontes (Hayti and Cuba); Dendroblaptus (Cuba); Mono- desmus (Cuba and Jamaica) ; Prosternodes (Cuba) ; Solenoptera and Llateropsis, the two largest genera found in most of the tom CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 75 islands. Of Cerambycide there are 16 genera, 2 of which range all over America, 4 are Neotropical, 1 South American only, while the following are confined to the islands,—Merostenus, Pentomacrus, and LHburiola (Jamaica); Bromiades (Cuba) ; Trichrous, Heterops, and Peciloderma (Antilles). One genus, Smodicum, is widely spread, having a species in Carolina, 1 in South America, 1 in Hayti, and 1 in West Africa. Of Lamiidee there are 14 genera, 8 of which are Neotropical, 1 common to Central America and Mexico, 1 to the United States and Cuba, while 2, Proecha and Phidola, are confined to Cuba. Several of the genera are curiously distributed ;—Spalacopsis is South American, with 4 species in Cuba and Tropical Africa ; Lago- cheirus is Neotropical, with a species in Australia ; while Lepto- stilus is characteristic of the Antilles and North America, with a few species in South America, and one in New Zealand. These cases of erratic distribution, so opposed to the general series of phenomena among which they occur, must be held to be sufficiently explained by the great antiquity of these groups and their former wide distribution. They may be supposed to be the remnants of types, now dying out, which were once, like Callichroma, Clytus, and many others, almost universally dis- tributed, All the peculiar Antillean genera of Cerambycide and La- miidz are allied to Neotropical forms. The peculiar Prionide, however, are mostly allied to Mexican and North American groups, and one, Monodesmus, belongs to a group all the other genera of which inhabit the East Indies and South Africa. Land-shells,—This subject has already been generally treated under the Region, of which, in this class of animals, the Antilles form so important a part. We must therefore now confine our- selves mainly to the internal distribution of the genera, and to a few remarks on the general bearing of the facts. The excessive and altogether unexampled productiveness of the West Indian islands in land-shells, may be traced to two main sets of causes. The first and least known, consist of the peculiar influences and conditions which render islands always more productive than continents, Whatever these conditions 76 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. are, they will be more effective where the islands have been long separated from the mainland, as is here undoubtedly the case. It seems most probable that the great development of land- shells in islands, is due to the absence or deficiency of the verte- brata, which on continents supply a variety of species adapted to prey upon these molluscs. This view is supported by the fact, that in such islands as have been united to a continent at no very distant epoch, and still maintain a continental variety of vertebrata, no such special development of land-shells has taken place. If we compare the Philippine islands with the Sunda group, we find the development of vertebrata and land-molluscs in inverse ratio to each other. The same thing occurs if we compare New Zealand and Tasmania ; and we have a still more striking example in the Antillean group itself, continental Trinidad having only 20 genera and 88 species, while the highly insular Jamaica has about 30 genera and more than 500 species. The other causes favourable to the increase and development of land-shells are of a physical nature. A great extent of lime- stone-rock is one; and in the larger West Indian islands we have a considerable proportion of the surface consisting of this rock. But perhaps equally or more important, is the character of the land surface, and the texture of the exposed rock itself. beyond the Region. aaa _|Fa| 597. Melopelia | 2) Mexico to Chili South & West Nearetic 598. Peristera... | 4 | Mexico to Brazil 599. Mctriopelia | 2 W.America from Ecuador to Chili 600. Gymnopelia | 1 | West Peru and Bolivia 601. Leptoptila | 11 | Tropical sub-regions 602. Geotrygon | 14 | Tropical sub-regions 6038. Starnanas | 1 | Cuba GALLINA. | TETRAONIDE. | 604. Odontophorus | 17 | Trop. North and South America 605. Dendrortyx | 3 | Mexico to Costa Rica ; 606. Cyrtonyx 3 | Mexico to Guatemala S. Central United States 607. Ortyx ... 5 | Mexico to Costa Rica, Cuba | Nearctic to Canada 608. Eupsychortyz | 5 | Mexico to Columbia and Guiana ; . (Callipepla | 2 | Mexico) California PHASIANIDSE. 609. Meleagris 2 | Mexico and Honduras | Nearctic CRACID&. 610. Crax 8 | Mexico to Venezuela & S. Brazil 611. Nothocrax 1 | Guiana aud Upper Amazon 612. Pauxi 1 | Guiana and Venezuela 613. Alitua : 2 | Guiana to Peru 614. Stegnolema ... | 1 | Columbia and Ecuador 615. Penelope... | 13 | Trop. North and South America 616. Penelopina 1 | Guatemala 617 Pipile 3 | Venezuela to Brazil and Peru 618. Aburria... ... | 1 | Columbia 619. Chaimeepetes ... | 2 | Costa Rica to Peru 620. Ortalida... -i8 | Trop. North and South America | New Mexico 621. Oreophasis 1 | Guatemala TINAMID. 622. Tinamus _... | 7 | Trop. North and South America 623. Nothocercus ... 3 | Costa Rica to Venezue. & Ecuador 624. Crypturus 16 | Trop. North and South America 625. Rhynchotus ... 2 | Brazil to Bolivia and La Plata 626. Nothoprocta ... 4 | Ecuador to Bolivia and Chili 627. Nothura... 4 | Brazil to Bolivia and La Plata 628. Taoniscus ... 1 | Brazil and Paraguay 629. Calodromas ... 1 | La Plata 630. Tinamotis 1 | Andes of Peru and Bolivia OPISTHOCOMI. OPISTHOCOMID&. 631. Opisthocomus... 1 | Guiana and Lower Amazon THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 111 | CHAP. XIV. ] pcr remy: and | 28 Range within the Region. | Range beyond the Region. : aa ACCIPITRES. VULTURID. (CATHARTIN® ) 632. Sarcorhamphus | 2 | The Andes and §. of 41° S. Lat. 633. Cathartes 1 | Mexico to 20°S. Lat. 634. Catharista 1 | Mexico to 40°S. Lat. S. United States 635. Pseudogryphis 3 | Mexico to Falkland Ids., Cuba,| United States Jamaica FALCONIDS. 636. Polyborus 2 | The whole region California and Florida 637. Ibycter ... 8 |Guatemala to Terra del Fuego 638. Circus 3 | Nearly the whole region Almost cosmopolite 639. Micrastur 7 | Trop. North and South America 640. Geranospiza ... | 2 | Trop. North and South America 641. Antenor... 1 | Mexico to Chili and La Plata California and Texas 642. Astur 1 | Trop. N. andS. America Almost cosmopolite 643. Accipiter 15 | The whole region Almost cosmopolite 644. Heterospizias... 1 | Trop. S. America, E. of Andes 645. Tachytriorchis | 2 | Mexico to Paraguay California 646. Buteo 9 | Mexico to Patagonia Almost cosmopolite 647. Buteola 1 | Veragua to Amazonia 648. Asturina 7 | Mexico to Bolivia and La Plata | S.E. United States 649. Busarellus 1 | Braziland Guiana 650. Buteogallus 1 | Columbia and Guiana 651. Urubutinga ... 2 | Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia 652. Harpyhalieetus | 1 | Veragua to Chili & N. Patagonia 653. Morphnus 1 | Panama to Amazonia 654. Thrasaétus 1 | Mexico to Bolivia and Paraguay 655. Lophotriorchis 1 | Bogota Indo-Malaya 656. Spiziastur 1 | Guatemala to Brazil 657. Spizaétus 4 | Mexico to Paraguay Africa, India, Malaya 658. Herpetotheres... | 1 |S. Mexico to Bolivia & Paraguay 659. Nauclerus 1 | Mexico to Brazil S. United States 660. Rostrhamus ... 3 | Antilles to Brazil and Peru Florida 661. Leptodon 4 | Central America to S. Brazil and Bolivia , 662. Elanus 1 | Mexico to Chili Califor., Old World trop. 663. Gampsonyx 1 | Trinidad to Brazil 664. Harpagus 3 | Central America to Brazil & Peru 665. Ictinia .. | 2 | Mexico to Brazil South United States 666. Spiziapterya ... 1 | La Plata 667. Falco ee 3 | The whole region Almost cosmopolite 668. Cerchneis 3 | The whole region Almost cosmopolite PANDIONIDS. 669, Pandion... 1 | The whole region Cosmopolite STRIGIDA. 670. Glaucidium ... | 6 | The whole region W. United Sts., Paleare. 671. Micrathene 1 | Mexico Arizona, New Mexico 672. Pholeoptynx... | 1 |The whole region N.W. America & Texas 673. Bubo ... | 1 |The whole region |All regions but Austral. 112 Order, Family, and Genus. 674. 675. 676. 677. 678. 679. 680. 681. 682. 683. SHOO}OS) bag. one Gymnoylaur ... Lophostriz Syrnium... Ciccaba ... Nyctalatinus ... Pulsatriz Asio Re Nyctalops Pseudoscops (Nyctale... 684. Strix Peculiar or very Characteristie Genera GRALLA. RALLID. Aramides Heliornis rey SCOLOPACID. Enreunetes CHIONIDID&®. Chionis ... THINOCORIDS. Attagis ... Thinocoris CHARADRID. Phegornis Orcophilus Pluvianellus ... Aphriza ... CARIAMID. Cariama ARAMID®. Aramus ... PsopHirp”, Psophia ... EURYPYGID&. Eurypyga ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY, No, of Species. | NMR NNFOWNN & bo me OO wo bo fk et fet: et 9 Range within the Region. [PART III. Range beyond the Region. Mexico to Brazil and La Plata West India Islands Guatemala to Lower Amazon Mexico to Patagonia Mexico to Peru and Paraguay Columbia Guatemala to Brazil and Peru The whole region Cuba and Mexico to Brazil Jamaica Mexico) The whole region The whole region Tropical America | |The whole region Sts. of Magellan, Falkland Ids. Andes to Fuegia and Falkland Islands | Peru, Chili, and La Plata Temperate S. America | Temperate 8. America | Temperate S. America _W. coast of S. America |S. Brazil and La Plata | Mexico and Cuba to Brazil | Equatorial S, America ' Tropical America Almost cosmopolite All regions but Austral. All regions but Austral. N. Temperate genus Almost cosmopolite of Wading and Swimming Birds. | Nearctic Kerguelen’s Island , | W. coast of N. America 113 CHAP. XIV. ] THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. ae i6 ily. aa ee : Coie eels ane 3 Range within the Region. Range beyond the Region. nD ARDEIDS. Tigrisoma 3 | The whole region Cancroma 1 | TropicalS. America PALAMEDEID. Palamedea 1 | Equatorial America Chauna... 2 | Columbia, Brazil, and La Plata ANSERES. ANATIDE. Catrina... 1 | Tropical S. America Merganetta ... 3 | Andes Micropterus ... | 1 | Temperate 8. America SPHENISCIDA. | Eudyptes - 6 Temperate S. America | Antarctic shores Aptenodytes 2 Falkland Islands | Antarctic shores STRUTHIONES. STRUTHIONID#. 685. Rhea 3 |S. Temperate America VOU. Ii CHAPTER, XV. THE NEARCTIC REGION. THIS region consists almost wholly of Temperate North America as defined by physical geographers. In area it is about equal to the Neotropical region. It possesses a vast mountain range traversing its entire length from north to south, comparable with, and in fact a continuation of, the Andes——and a smaller range near the east coast, equally comparable with the mountains of Brazil and Guiana. These mountains supply its great river- system of the Mississippi, second only to that of the Amazon ; aud in its vast group of fresh-water lakes or inland seas, it possesses a feature unmatched by any other region, except perhaps by the Ethiopian. It possesses every variety of climate between arctic and tropical; extensive forests and vast prairies ; a greatly varied surface and a rich and beautiful flora. But these ereat advantages are somewhat neutralized by other physical features. It extends far towards the north, and there it reaches its greatest width ; while in its southern and warmest portion it suddenly narrows. The northern mass of land causes its isothermal lines to bend southwards; and its winter tempera- ture especially, is far lower than at corresponding latitudes in Europe. This diminishes the available area for supporting animal life; the amount and character of which must be, to a great extent, determined by the nature of the least favourable part of the year. Again, owing to the position of its mountain rances and the direction of prevalent winds, a large extent of its interior, east of the Rocky Mountains, is bare and arid, and often almost desert ; while the most favoured districts,—those east of NGEF ACR Ceri Seale 1 ineh—LO000 miles FOE GLO N || The boundaries and reference numbers | of the Sub-regions are shewn in Red EXPLANATION Terrestrial Contours From Sea level to L000 feet White L000 teet to 2,500 —, | (EZ 2.500 5,000 RSS - _ 3,000 10,000 paces ._ 10,000 20,000 SERRA The Marine Contour of L000 feet is shewn by a dotted line Pasture lands shewn thus Forest Desert i —t —— j i Equator 3 a 7 m sa5 Se, ——_ oe = === =SSSS=——S=S—— lO Longitude West 100 of Greenwich 90 London; Macmillan & C®° 80 Stanfords Geographical Estab! London. CHAP. XV. | THE NEARCTIC REGION. 115 the Mississippi and west of the Sierra Nevada, bear but a small proportion to its whole area. Again, we know that at a very recent period geologically, it was subjected to a very severe Glacial epoch, which wrapped a full half of it in a mantle of ice, and exterminated a large number of animals which previously in- habited it. Taking all this into account, we need not. be sur- prised to find the Nearctic region somewhat less rich and varied in its forms of life than the Palearctic or the Australian regions, with which alone it can fairly be compared. The wonder rather is that it should be so little inferior to them in this respect, and that it should possess such a variety of groups, and such a multitude of forms, in every class of animals. Zoological characteristics of the Nearctic Region.—Temperate North America possesses representatives of 26 families of Mam- malia, 48 of Birds, 18 of Reptiles, 11 of Amphibia, and 18 of Fresh-water Fish. The first three numbers are considerably less than the corresponding numbers for the Palearctic region, while the last two are greater—in the case of fishes materially so, a circumstance readily explained by the wonderful group of fresh- water lakes and the noble southward-flowing river system of the Mississippi, to which the Palearctic region has nothing com- parable. But although somewhat deficient in the total number of its families, this region possesses its full proportion of peculiar and characteristic family and generic forms. No less than 13 families or sub-families of Vertebrata are confined to it, or just enter the adjacent Neotropical region. These are,—three of mam- mala, Antilocaprine, Saccomyide and Haploodontide ; one of birds, Chamzidze ; one of reptiles, Chirotid ; two of amphibia, Sirenidz and Amphiumide ; and the remaining six of fresh-water fishes. The number of peculiar or characteristic genera is per- haps more important for our purpose; and these are very con- siderable, as the following enumeration will show. Mammatlia.—Of the family of moles (Talpide) we have 3 peculiar genera: Condylura, Scapanus, and Scalops, as well as the remarkable Uvrotrichus, found only in California and Japan. In the weasel family (Mustelidee) we have Zatax, a peculiar kind of otter; Taxidea, allied to the badgers; and one of the I 2 116 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. remarkable and characteristic skunks is separated by Dr. J. E. Gray as a genus—Spilogale. In the American family Procyo- nide, a peculiar genus (Bassaris) is found in California and Texas, extending south along the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. Humetopias, and Halicyon, are seals confined to the west coast of North America. The Bovide, or hollow-horned ruminants, contain three pecuhar forms; Antilocapru, the re- markable prong-buck of the Rocky Mountains ; Aplocerus, a goat- like antelope; and Ovibos, the musk-sheep, confined to Arctic America and Greenland. Among the Rodents are many pecu- liar genera: Neotoma, Sigmodon, and Fiber, belong to the Muride, or rats; Jaculus to the Dipodide, or jerboas. The very distinct family Saccomyzde, or pouched rats, which have peculiar cheek pouches, or a kind of outer hairy mouth, con- sists of five genera all confined to this region, with one of doubtful affinities in Trinidad and Central America. In the squirrel family (Sciuride), Cynonys, the prairie-dogs, are pecu- har; and Zamias, the ground squirrel, is very characteristic, though found also in North Asia. Haploodon, or sewellels, consisting of two species, forms a distinct family; and Hrethizon is a peculiar form of tree porcupine (Cercolabide). True mice and rats of the genus Mus are not indigenous to North America, their place being supplied by a distinct genus (Hesperomys), confined to the American continent. Birds.—The genera of birds absolutely peculiar to the Nearctic region are not very numerous, because, there being no boundary but one of climate between it and the Neotropical region, most of its characteristic forms enter a short distance within the limits we are obliged to concede to the latter. Owing also to the severe winter-climate of a large part of the region (which we know is a comparatively recent phenomenon), a large pro- portion of its birds migrate southwards, to pass the winter in the West-Indian islands or Mexico, some going as far as Guate- mala, and a few even to Venezuela. In our chapter on extinct animals, we have shown, that there is good reason for believing that the existing union of North and South America is a quite recent occurrence; and that the CHAP. XV.] THE NEARCTIC REGION. ul? separation was effected by an arm of the sea across what is now Nicaragua, with perhaps another at Panama. This would leave Mexico and Guatemala joined to North America, and forming part of the Nearctic region, although no doubt contain- ing many Neotropical forms, which they had received during earlier continental petiods ; and these countries might at other times have been made insular by a strait at the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and have then developed some peculiar species. The latest climatal changes have tended to restrict these Neotropical forms to those parts where the climate is really tropical; and thus Mexico has attained its present strongly marked Neotropical character, although deficient in many of the most important groups of that region. In view of these recent changes, it seems proper not to draw any decided line between the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, but rather to apply, in the case of each genus, a test which will show whether it was probably derived at a comparatively recent date from one region or the other. The test referred to, is the existence of peculiar species of the genus, in what are un- doubtedly portions of ancient North or South America. If, for example, all the species of a genus oecur in North America, some, or even all, of them, migrating into the Neotropical region in winter, while there are no peculiar Neotropical species, then we must class that genus as strictly Nearctic; for if it were Neotropical it would certainly have developed some peculiar resident forms. Again, even if there should be one or two resident species peculiar to that part of Central America north of the ancient dividing strait, with an equal or greater number of species ranging over a large part of Temperate North America, the genus must still be considered Nearctic. Examples of the former case, are Helminthophaga and Myiodioctes, belonging to the Mniotiltidee, or wood-warblers, which range over all Tem- perate North America to Canada, where a// the species are found, but in each case one of the species is found in South America, probably as a winter migrant. Of the latter, are Ammodramus and Junco (genera of finches), which range over the whole United States, but each have one peculiar species in Guatemala. These 118 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. may be claimed as exclusively Nearctic genera, on the ground that Guatemala was recently Nearctic; and is now really a transition territory, of which the lowlands have been invaded and taken exclusive possession of by a Neotropical fauna, while the highlands are still (in part at least) occupied by Nearctic forms. In his article on “ Birds,” in the new edition of the “Ency- clopeedia Britannica” (now publishing), Professor Newton points out, that the number of peculiar genera of Nearctic birds is much less than in each of the various sub-divisions of the Neotropical region; and that the total number of genera is also less, while the bulk of them are common either to the Neo- tropical or Paleearctic regions. This is undoubtedly the case if any fixed geographical boundary is taken; and it would thus seem that the “Nearctic”” should, in birds, form a sub-region only. But, if we define “Nearctic genera” as above indicated, we find a considerable amount of speciality, as the following list will show. The names not italicised are those which are repre- sented in Mexico or Guatemala by peculiar species :— List oF TypicAL NEARcTIC GENERA OF LAND BirRDs. 1. Oreoscoptes 17. Phenopepla 33. Empidias 2, Harporhynchus 18, Xanthocephalus 34, Sphyrapicus 3. Sialia 19. Scolecophagus 35. Hylatomus 4. Chamea 20. Pipilo 36. Trochilus 5. Catherpes 21, Junco 37. Atthis 6. Salpinctus 22. Melospiza 38. Eectopistes 7. Psaltriparus 23, Spizella 39, Centrocercus & Auriparus 24. Passerculus 40. Pediocetes 9. Gymnokitta 25. Powcetes 41. Cupidonia 10, Picicorvus 26. Ammodromus ? Ortyx 11. Mniotilta. 27. Cyanospiza 42. Oreortyx 12, Oporornis 28. Pyrrhuloria 43, Lophortyx 13. Icteria 29, Calamospiza 44, Callipepla 14. Helmintherus 30. Chondestes 45, Cyrtonyx 15. Helminthophaga 31. Centronyx 46. Meleagris 16. Myiodioctes 32, Neocorys 47, Micrathene The above are all groups which are either wholly Nearctie or typically so, but entering more or less into the debatable ground of the Neotropical region; though none possess any peculiar species in the ancient Neotropical land south of Nicaragua. But we have, besides these, a number of genera which we are accus- CHAP. xv.] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 119 tomed to consider as typically European, or Palearctic, having representatives in North America; although in many cases it would be more correct to say that they are Nearctic genera, represented in Europe, since America possesses more species than Europe or North Asia. The following is a list of genera which have as much right to be considered typically Nearctic as Palearctic :— 1. Regulus 9, Corvus 16. Euspiza 2. Certhia 10. Ampelis 17. Plectrophanes 3. Sitta 11. Loxia 18. Tetrao 4. Parus 12, Pinicola 19, Lagopus 5. Lophophanes 13. Linota 20. Nyctala 6. Lanius 14, Passerelia 21. Archihuteo 7. Perisoreus 15. Leucosticte. 22. Halietus 8. Pica The seven genera italicized have a decided preponderance of Nearctic species, and have every right to be considered typically Nearctic ; while the remainder are so well represented by peculiar species, that it is quite possible many of them may have origi- nated here, rather than in the Palearctic region, all alike being quite foreign to the Neotropical. On the whole, then, we have 47 in the first and 7 in the second table, making 54 genera which we may fairly class as typically Nearctic, out of a total of 168 genera of land-birds, or nearly one-third of the whole. This is an amount of peculiarity which is comparable with that of either of the less isolated regions ; and, combined with the more marked and more exclusively peculiar forms in the other orders of vertebrates, fully establishes Temperate North America as a region, distinct alike from the Neotropical and the Palzearctic. Reptiles— Although temperate climates are always compara- tively poor in reptiles, a considerable number of genera are peculiar to the Nearctic region, Of snakes, there are, Clonophis, Chilomeniscus, Pituophis, and Ischnognathus, belonging to the Colubride ; Farancia, and Dimodes, Homalopside ; Lichanotus, one of the Pythonide; Cenchris, Crotalophorus, Uropsophorus, and Crotalus, belonging to the Crotalide or rattlesnakes. Of Lizards, Chirotes, forming a peculiar family ; Ophisaurus, 120 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. the curious glass-snake, belonging to the Zonuridee ; with Phry- nosoma (commonly called horned toads), Callisaurus, Uta, Luphryne, Uma, and Holbrookia, genera of Ignanide. Testudinide, or Tortoises, show a great development of the genus Hmys ; with Aromochelys and Chelydra as peculiar genera. Amphibia—tIn this class the Nearctic region is very rich, possessing representatives of nine of the families, of which two are peculiar to the region, and there are no less than fifteen peculiar genera. Siven forms the family Sirenidee ; Menobranchus belongs to the Proteide ; Amphiuwma is the only representative of the Amphiumidz; there are nine peculiar genera of Sala- mandridz. Among the tail-less batrachians (frogs and toads) we have Scaphiopus, belonging to the Alytide ; Pseudacris to the Hylide ; and Acris to the Polypedatide. Fresh-water Fishes—The Nearctic region possesses no less than five peculiar family types, and twenty-four peculiar genera of this class. The families are Aphredoderide, consisting of a single species found in the Eastern States; Percopside, founded on a species peculiar to Lake Superior; Heteropygui, containing two genera peculiar to the Eastern States; Hyodontide and Amiidie, each consisting of a single species. The genera are as follows: Puralabrax, found in California; Huo, peculiar to Lake Huron; Pileoma, Boleosoma, Bryttus and Pomotis in the Eastern States—all belonging to the perch family. Hypodelus and Noturus, belonging to the Siluride. TZhaleichthys, one of the Salmonidz peculiar to the Columbia river. JJoxostoma, Pimephales, Hyborhynchus, Rhinichthys, in the Eastern States ; Ericymba, Hxoglossum, Leueosomus, and Carpiodes, more widely distributed ; Cochlognathus, in Texas ; Mylaphorodon and Ortho- don, in California; AZeda, in the river Gila; and Aerochilus, in the Columbia river—all belonging to the Cyprinidee. Scaphi- rhynchus, found only in the Mississippi and its tributaries, belongs to the sturgeon family (Accipenseride). Summary of Nearctie Vertebrata.—The Nearctic region possesses 24 peculiar genera of mammalia, 49 of birds, 21 of reptiles, and 29 of fresh-water fishes, making 123 in all. Of these 70 are mammals and land-birds, out of a total of 242 CHAP. XV. ] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 121 genera of these groups, a proportion of about two-sevenths. This is the smallest proportion of peculiar genera we have found in any of the regions; but many of the genera are of such isolated and -exceptional forms that they constitute separate families, so that we have no less than 12 families of vertebrata confined to the region. The Palearctic region has only 3 peculiar families, and even the Oriental region only 12; so that, judged by this test, the Nearctic region is remarkably well characterized. We must also remember that, owing to the migration of many of its peculiar forms during the Glacial period, it has recently lost some of its speciality ; and we should therefore give some weight to the many characteristic groups it possesses, which, though not quite peculiar to it, form important features in its fauna, and help to separate it from the other regions with which it has been thought to be closely allied. It is thus well distinguished from the Palearctic region by its Pro- eyonide, or racoons, Hesperomys, or vesper mice, and Didelphys, or opossums, among Mammalia; by its Vireonide, or greenlets, Mniotiltide, or wood-warblers, Ieteride, or hang-nests, Tyran- nid, or tyrant shrikes, and Trochilide, or humming-birds, among birds, families which, extending to its extreme northern limits must be held to be as truly characteristic of it as of the Neotropical region; by its Teide, Iguanide, and Cinosternum, among reptiles; and by its Siluride, and Lepidosteide, among fishes. From the Neotropical region it is still more clearly separated, by its numerous Insectivora; by its bears; its Old World forms of ruminants ; its beaver; its numerous Arvicole, or voles; its Scvwropterus, or flying squirrels; Tamas, or ground- squirrels; and ZLagomys, or marmots, among mammals; its numerous Paride, or tits, and Tetraonide, or grouse, among birds; its Trionychidz among reptiles ; its Proteidz, and Sala- mandride, among Amphibia; and its Gasterosteide, Atherinide, Esocide, Umbridee, Accipenseride, and Polydontide, among fishes. These characteristic features, taken in conjunction with the absolutely peculiar groups before enumerated, demonstrate that the Nearctic region cannot with propriety be combined with 122 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART II. any other. Though not very rich, and having many disadvan- tages of climate and of physical condition, it is yet sufficiently well characterized in its zoological features to rank as one of the well-marked primary divisions of the earth’s surface. There is one other consideration bearing on this question which should not be lost sight of. In establishing our regions we have depended wholly upon their now possessing a sufficient number and variety of animal forms, and a fair proportion of peculiar types ; but when the validity of our conclusion on these erounds is disputed, we may supplement the evidence by an appeal to the past history of the region in question. In this case we find a remarkable support to our views. During the whole Tertiary period, North America was, zoologically, far more strongly contrasted with South America than it is now; while, during the same long series of ages, it was always clearly separated from the Eastern hemisphere or the Palearctic region by the exclusive possession of important families and numerous genera of Mammalia, as shown by our summary of its extinct fauna in Chapter VII. Not only may we claim North America as now forming one of the great zoological regions, but as having continued to be one ever since the Eocene period. Insects. In describing the Palzearctic and Neotropical regions, many of the peculiarities of the insect-fauna of this region have been incidentally referred to; and as a tolerably full account of the distribution of the several families is given in the Fourth Part of our work (Chapter XXI.), we shall treat the subject very briefly here. Lepidoptera.—The butterflies of the Nearctic region have lately been studied with much assiduity, and we are now able to form some idea of their nature and extent. Nearly 500 species belonging to about 100 genera have been described ; showing that the region, which a few years ago was thought to be very poor in species of butterflies, is really much richer than Europe, and probably about as rich as the more extensive Pale- arctic region. There is, however, very little speciality in the CHAP. XV.] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 123 forms. A considerable number of Neotropical types enter the southern States; but there are hardly any peculiar genera, except one of the Lycenide and perhaps a few among the Hesperide. The most conspicuous feature of the region is its fine group of Papilios, belonging to types (P. turnus and P. troilus) which are characteristically Nearctic. It is also as rich as the Palearctic region in some genera which we are accustomed to consider as pre-eminently European; such as Argynnis, Melitea, Grapta, Chionabas, and a few others. Still, we must acknowledge, that if we formed our conclusions from the butterflies alone, we could hardly separate the Nearctic from the Palearctic region. This identity probably dates from the Miocene period ; for when our existing arctic regions supported a luxuriant vegetation, butterflies would have been plentiful ; and asthe cold came on, these would move southwards both in America and Europe, and, owing to the long continuance of the generic types of insects, would remain little modified till now. Coleoptera —Only a few indications can be given of the peculiarities of the Nearctic coleoptera. In Cicindelide the region possesses, besides the cosmopolite Cicindela, four other genera, two of which—Amblychile and Onvus—are peculiar to the West Coast and the Rocky Mountains. Of Carabide it possesses Dicelus, Pasitnachus, Eurytrichus, Spheroderus, Pina- codera, and a number of smaller genera, altogether peculiar to it ; Helluomorpha, Galerita, Callida, and Tetragonoderus, in common with South America; and a large number of characteristic European forms. The Lucanide are all of European types. The region is poor in Cetonide, but has representatives of the South American Euphoria, as well as of four European genera. Of Buprestide it has the South American Actenodes ; a single species of the Ethiopian and Eastern #elionotc, in California; and about a dozen other genera of European and wide distribution. Among Longicorns it possesses fifty-nine peculiar genera, representatives of five Neotropical, and thirteen Paleearctic genera ; as well as many of wider distribution. Prionus is the chief representative of the Prionide ; Leptura and Crossidius of the 124 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. Cerambycide ; Leptostylus, Liopus, Graphidurus, and Tetraopes, of the Lamiide, the latter genus being confined to the region. Terrestrial and Fluviatile Mollusca. The land-shells of temperate North America almost all belong to the Inoperculate or Pulmoniferous division ; the Operculata being represented only by a few species of MHelicina and Truncatella, chiefly in the Southern States. According to Mr. Binney’s recent “Catalogue of the Terrestrial Air-breathing Mollusks of North America,” the fauna consists of the following genera :—Glandina (6 sp.); Macrocyclis (5 sp.) ; Zonites (37 sp.) ; Vitrina (4 sp.) ; Limaz (5 sp.); Arion (3 sp.); Ariolimax (3 sp.) ; Prophysaon (1 sp.) ; Binneta (1 sp.) ; Hemiphillia (1 sp.); Patula (16 sp.); Helix (80); Holospira (2 sp.); Cylindrella (2 sp.); Macroceramus (2 sp.); Bulimulus (8 sp.) ; Ctonella (2 sp.) ; Steno- gyra (4+ sp.); Pupa (19 sp.); Strophia (1 sp.); Vertigo (6 sp.); Liguus (1 sp.); Orthalicus (2 sp.); Punctum (1 sp.); Succinea (26 sp.); Tebennopherus (1 sp.); Pallifera (1 sp.); Veronicella (2 sp.). All the larger genera range over the whole region, but the following have a more restricted distribution ; MJacrocyclis has only one species in the East, the rest being Californian or Central; Ariolimax, Prophysaon, Binneia, and Hemiphillia, are confined to the Western sub-region. Lower California has affinities with Mexico, 18 species being peculiar to it, of which two are true bulimi, a genus unknown in other parts of the region. The Central or Rocky Mountain sub-region is chiefly characterised by six peculiar species of Patula. The Eastern sub-region is by far the richest, nine-tenths of the whole number of species being found init. The Alleghany Mountains form the richest portion of this sub-region, possessing nearly half the total number of species, and at least 24 species found nowhere else. The southern States have also several peculiar species, but they are not so productive as the Alleghanies. The Canadian sub-region possesses 32 species, of which nearly half are northern forms more or less common to the whole Arctic regions, and several of this character have spread southwards all CHAP. XV. ] THE NEARCTIC: REGION. 125 over the United States. Species of Vitrina, Zonites, Pupa, and Succinea, are foundin Greenland ; and Eastern Palearctic species of Vitrina, Patula, and Pupa occur in Alaska. More than 30 species of shells living in the Eastern States, are found fossil in the Post-Pliocene deposits of the Ohio and Mississippi. Fresh-water Shells—North America surpasses every other part of the globe in the number and variety of its fresh-water mollusca, both univalve and bivalve. The numbers up to 1866 were as follows :—Melaniade, 380 species; Paludinide, 58 species ; Cycladide, 44 species; and Unionide, 552 species. The last family had, however, increased to 832 species in 1874, according to Dr. Isaac Lea, who has made them his special study ; but it is probable that many of these are such as would be considered varieties by most conchologists. Many of the species of Unio are very large, of varied forms, and rich internal colouring, and the croup forms a prominent feature of the Nearctic fauna. By far the larger proportion of the fresh-water shells inhabit the Eastern or Alleghany sub-region ; and their great development is a powerful argument against any recent extensive submergence beneath the ocean of the lowlands of North America. The Nearctic Sub-regions. The sub-divisions of the Nearctic region, although pretty clearly indicated by physical features and peculiarities of climate and vegetation, are by no means so strongly marked out in their zoology as we might expect. The same genera, as a rule, extend over the whole region; while the species of the several sub-regions are in most cases different. Even the vast range of the Rocky Mountains has not been an effectual barrier against this wide dispersal of the same forms of life; and although some important groups are limited by it, these are exceptions to the rule. Even now, we find fertile valleys and plateaus of moderate elevation, penetrating the range on either side ; and both to the north and south there are passes which can be freely traversed by. most animals during the summer. Previous to the glacial epoch there was probably a warm period, when every part of the range supported an abundant and varied 126 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART IIT, fauna, which, when the cold period arrived, would descend to the lowlands, and people the country to the east, west, and south, with similar forms of life. The first, and most important sub-division we can make, consists of the Eastern United States, extending across the Mississippi and the more fertile prairies, to about the 100°th. meridian of west longitude, where the arid and almost desert country commences. Southwards, the boundary bends towards the coast, near the line of the Brazos or Colorado rivers. To the north the limits are undefined; but as a considerable number of species and genera occur in the United States but not in Canada, it will be convenient to draw the line somewhere near the boundary of the two countries, except that the district between lakes Huron and Ontario, and probably Nova Scotia, may be included in the present sub-region. As far west as the Mississippi, this was originally a vast forest country; and it is still well wooded, and clothed with a varied and luxuriant vegetation. The next, or Central sub-region, consists of the dry, elevated, and often arid district of the Rocky Mountains, with its great plateaus, and the barren plains of its eastern slope; extending northwards to near the commencement of the great forests north of the Saskatchewan, and southward to the Rio Grande del Norte, the Gulf of California, and to Cape St. Lucas, as shown on our maps. This sub-region is of an essentially desert character, althouch the higher valleys of the Rocky Mountains are often well wooded, and in these are found some northern and some western types. The third, or Californian sub-region,is small, but very luxuriant, occupying the comparatively narrow strip of country between the Sierra Nevada and the Pacific. To the north it may include Van- couver’s Island and the southern part of British Columbia, while to the south it extends to the head of the Gulf of California. The fourth division, comprises the remainder of North America ; and is a country of pine forests, and of barren wastes towards the Arctic Ocean, It has fewer peculiar species to characterise it than any other, but it possesses several characteristic arctic CHAD. XV. ] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 127 forms, while many of those peculiar to the south are absent ; so that it is a very convenient, if it should not be considered an altogether natural, sub-region. We will now give an outline of the most important zoological features of each of these divisions, taking them in the order in which they are arranged in the Fourth Part of this work. California comes first, as it has some tropical forms not found elsewhere, and thus forms a transition from the Neotropical region, I. The Western or Catifernian Sub-region. This small district possesses a fruitful soil and a highly favourable climate, and is, in proportion to its extent, perhaps the richest portion of the continent, both zoologically and botan- ically. Its winters are far milder than those of the Eastern States in corresponding latitudes ; and this, perhaps, has enabled it to support several tropical forms which give a special character to its fauna. It is here only, in the whole region, that bats of the families Phyllostomidze and Noctilionidee, and 2 serpent of the tropical family, Pythonide, are found, as well as several Neotropical forms of birds and reptiles. Mammalia.—The following genera are not found in any other part of the Nearctic region. Jlacrotus (Phyllostomide), one species in California; Antrozous (Vespertilionidée), one species on the West Coast; Urotrichus (Talpidee) one species in British Columbia; sub-genus Vesorex (Soricid), one species in Oregon ; Bassarvis (Procyonidee), California; Hnhydra (Mustelidee), Pacific Coast; Morunga (Phocide), California ; Haploodon (Haploodon- tide) a rat-like animal, allied to the beavers and marmots, and constituting a pecular family found only in California and British Columbia. The following characteristic Nearctic forms also extend into this sub-region :—Tazxidea, Procyon, Didelphys, Sciuropterus, Tamias, Spermophilus, Dipodomys, Perognathus, Jaculus. Birds—Few genera of birds are quite peculiar to this sub- region, since most of the Western forms extend_into the central district, yet it has afew, Glaucidium,a genus of Owls, is confined 128 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. (in the Nearctic region) to California; Chamea, a singular form allied to the wrens, and forming a distinct family, is quite pecu- liar; Geococcyx, a Neotropical form of cuckoo, extends to California and Southern Texas. The following genera are very character- istic of the sub-region, and some of them almost confined to it: Myiadestes (Sylviide); Psaltriparus (Paridee); Cyanocitta, Picicorvus (Corvidee) ; Hesperiphona, Peucwa, Chondestes (Fringil- lide) ; Selasphorus, Atthis (Trochilide); Columba, Melopelia (Columbidee) ; Oreortyx (Tetraonide). Reptiles—The following genera are not found in any other part of the Nearctic region: Charina (Tortricidee) ; Lichanotus (Pythonidee) ; Gerrhonotus (Zonuridee) ; Phyllodactylus (Gecko- tidee) ; Anolius and Tropidolepis (Iguanidee). Sceloporus (Igu- anidee) is only found elsewhere in Florida. All the larger North American groups of lizards and snakes are also represented here ; but in tortoises it is deficient, owing to the absence of lakes and large rivers. Amphibia.—California possesses two genera of Salamandride, Aneides and Heredia, which do not extend to the other sub- regions. Fresh-water Fish—There are two or three peculiar genera of Cyprinidze, but the sub-region is comparatively poor in this group. Plate XVIII. Illustrative of the Zoology of California and the Rocky Mountains.—We have chosen for the subject of this illus- tration, the peculiar Birds of the Western mountains. The two birds in the foreground are a species of grouse (Pediocetes Colum- bianus), entirely confined to this sub-region ; while the only other species of the genus is found in the prairies north and west of Wisconsin, so that the group is peculiar to northern and western America. The crested birds in the middle of the picture (Oreortyx picta), are partridges, belonging to the American sub- family Odontophorine. This is the only species of the genus which is confined to California and Oregon. The bird at the top is the blue crow (Gymnokitta cyanocephala), confined to the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada from New Mexico and Arizona northwards, and more properly belonging to the Central PLATE XVIII. 5 ANEN SCENE IN CALIFORNIA, WITH SOME CHARACTERISTIC BIRDS. CHAP, XV. | THE NEARCTIC REGION. yA) sub-region. It is allied to the European nutcracker; but ac- cording to the American ornithologist, Dr. Coues, has also resem- blances to the jays, and certainly forms a distinct genus. The grizzly bear (Ursus ferox) in the background, is one of the characteristic animals of the Californian highlands. IT, The Central, or Rocky Mountain Sub-region. This extensive district is, for the greater part of its extent, from 2,000 to 5,000 feet above the sea, and is excessively arid; and, except in the immediate vicinity of streams and on some of the higher slopes of the mountains, is almost wholly treeless. Its zoology is therefore peculiar. Many of the most characteristic genera and families of the Eastern States are absent ; while a number of curious desert and alpine forms give it a character of its own, and render it very interesting to the naturalist. Mammalia.—tThe remarkable prong-horned antelope (Antilo- capra), the mountain goat (Aplocerus), the mountain sheep or bighorn (Ovis montana), and the prairie-dog (Cynomys), one of the Rodentia, are peculiar to this sub-region; while the family of the Saccomyide, or pouched rats, is represented by many forms and is very characteristic. Here is also the chief home of the bison. The glutton (Gulo) and marmot (Lagomys) enter it from the north; while it has the racoon (Procyon), flying squirrel (Sciu- vopterus), ground squirrel (Zamias), pouched marmot (Spermo- philus) and jumping mouse (J/aculvs) in common with the countries east or west of it. Plate XIX, Illustrative of the Zoology of the Central Plains or Prairies—We here introduce four of the most characteristic mammialia of the great American plains or prairies, three of them being types confined to North America. The graceful animals on the left are the prong-horned antelopes (Antilocapra americana), whose small horns, though hollow like those of the ante- lopes, are shed annually like those of the deer. To the right we have the prairie-dogs of the trappers (Cynomys ludovi- cianus) which, as will be easily seen, are rodents, and allied to the marmots of the European Alps. Their burrows are numerous on the prairies, and the manner in which they perch VOL. II. K 130 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III, themselves on little mounds and gaze on intruders, is noticed by all travellers. On the left, in the foreground, is one of the extraordinary pouched rats of America (Geomys bursarius). These are burrowing animals, feeding on roots; and the mouth is, as it were, double, the outer portion very wide and hairy, behind which is the small inner mouth. Its use may be to keep out the earth from the mouth while the animal is gnawing roots. A mouth so constructed is found in no other animals but in these North American rats. In the distance is a herd of bisons (Bison americanus), the typical beast of the prairies. Birds.—This sub-region has many peculiar forms of birds, both residents, and migrants from the south or north. Among the peculiar resident species we may probably reckon a dipper, (Cinclus) ; Salpinctes, one of the wrens; Poospiza, Calamospiza, genera of finches; Picwcorvus, Gymnokitta, genera of the crow family; Centrocercus and Pediocetes, genera of grouse. As winter migrants from the north it has Leucosticte and Plectro- phanes, genera of finches; Perisoreus, a genus of the crow family ; Picoides, the Arctic woodpecker; and Lagopus, ptar- migan. Its summer migrants, many of which may be resident in the warmer districts, are more numerous. Such are, Orcos- coptes, a genus of thrushes; Campylorhynchus and Catherpes, wrens; Paroides, one of the tits; Phaenopepla, allied to the waxwing; Hmbernagra and Spermophila, genera of finches; Pyrocephalus, one of the tyrant shrikes ; Callipepla and Cyrtonyz, American partridges. Besides these, the more widely spread genera, Harporhynchus, Lophophanes, Carpodacus, Spizella, and Cyanocitta, are characteristic of the central district, and two genera of humming-birds—A tthis and Selasphorus—only occur here and in California. Prof. Baird notes 40 genera of birds which are re- presented by distinct allied species in the western, central, and eastern divisions of the United States, corresponding to our sub-regions. It is a curious fact that the birds of this sub-region should extend across the Gulf of California, and that Cape St. Lucas, at the southern extremity of the peninsula, should be decidedly more “Central” than “ Californian” in its ornithology. Prof. XIX, 1 4 PLATE HRISTIC MAMMALIA WITH CHARACTE PRAIRIES, AMERICAN H 7 vy THE CHAP, XV. ] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 131 Baird says, that its fauna is almost identical with that of the Gila River, and has hardly any relation to that of Upper California. It possesses a considerable number (about twenty) of peculiar species of birds, but all belong to genera character- istic of the present sub-region; and there is no resemblance to the birds of Mazatlan, just across the gulf in the Neotropical region. Reptiles, Amphibia, and Fishes—A large number of snakes and lizards inhabit this sub-region, but they have not yet been classified with sufticient precision to enable us to make much use of them. Among lizards, Iguanide, Geckotide, Scincidee, and Zonuridz, appear to be numerous; and many new genera of doubtful value have been described. Among snakes, Calamariidee, Colubridz, and Crotalide are represented. Among Amphibia, Siredon, one of the Proteide, is peculiar. The rivers and lakes of the Great Central Basin, and the Colorado River, contain many peculiar forms of Cyprinide. ITI, The Eastern or Alleghany Sub-region. This sub-region contains examples of all that is most charac- teristic of Nearctic zoology. It is for the most part an undu- lating or mountainous forest-clad country, with a warm or temperate climate, but somewhat extreme in character, and everywhere abounding in animal and vegetable life. To the west, across the Mississippi, the country becomes more open, gradually rises, becomes much drier, and at length merges into the arid plains of the central sub-region. To the south, in Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana, a sub-tropical climate prevails, and winter is almost unknown. To the north, in Michigan and New England, the winters are very severe, and streams and lakes are frozen for months together. These different climates, however, produce little effect on the forms of animal life; the species to some extent change as we go from north to south, but the same types everywhere prevail. This portion of the United States, having been longest inhabited by Europeans, has been more thoroughly explored than other parts of North America; and to this more complete knowledge its superior zoological richness K 2 132 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. may be to some extent due; but there can be little doubt that it is also positively, and not merely relatively, more productive in varied forms of animal life than either of the other sub-regions. Mammalia.—There seems to be only one genus absolutely peculiar to this sub-region—the very remarkable Condylura, or star-nosed mole, only found from Pennsylvania to Nova Scotia, and as far as about 94° west longitude. It also has opossums (Didelphys) in common with California, and three out of four species of Scalops, a genus of moles; as well as the skunk (Mephitis), American badger (7axidea), racoon (Procyon), pouched rat (Geomys), beaver rat (fiber), jumping mouse (Jaculus), tree porcupine (Hrethizon), and other characteristic Nearctic forms. Birds—The birds of this sub-region have been carefully studied by American naturalists, and many interesting facts ascertained as to their distribution and migrations. About 120 species of birds are peculiar to the east coast of the United States, but only about 30 of these are residents all the year round in any part of it; the bird population being essentially a migratory one, coming from the north in winter and the south in summer. The largest number of species seems to be congre- gated in the district of the Alleghany mountains. A consider- able proportion of the passerine birds winter in Central America and the West Indian Islands, and go to the Middle States or Canada to breed; so that even the luxuriant Southern States do not possess many birds which may be called permanent resi- dents. Thus, in East Pennsylvania there are only 52, and in the district of Columbia 54 species, found all the year round, out of about 130 which breed in these localities; very much below the number which permanently reside in Great Britain. This sub-region is well characterised by its almost exclusive possession of Ketopistes, the celebrated passenger pigeon, whose enormous flocks and breeding places have been so often de- seribed ; and Cupidonia, a remarkable genus of grouse. The only Nearctic parrot, Conwrus carolinensis, is found in the Southern States; as well as Crotophaga, a South American genus usually associated with the cuckoos. Helmintherus and CHAP. XV. ] ‘ THE NEARCTIC REGION. 133 Oporornis, genera of wood-warblers, may be considered to be peculiar to this sub-region, since in each case only one of the two species migrates as far as Central America; while two other genera of the same family, Siwrus and Setophaga, as well as the finch genus, Huspiza, do not extend to either of the western sub-regions. Parus, a genus of tits, comes into the district from the north; Otocorys, an alpine lark, and Coturniculus, an American finch, from the west ; and such characteristic Nearctic genera as Antrostomus (the whip-poor-will goatsuckers) ; Helminthophaga, Dendreca, and Myiodioctes (wood-warblers) ; Vireo (greenlets) ; Dolichonyz (rice-bird) ; Quiscalus (troupial) ; Meleagris (turkey) ; and Ortyx (American partridge), are wide-spread and abundant. In Mr. J. A. Allen’s elaborate and interesting paper on the birds of eastern North America, he enumerates 32 species which breed only in the more temperate portions of this province, and may therefore be considered to be especially characteristic of it. These belong to the following genera :—Twurdus, Galeoscoptes, Harporhynchus, Sialia, Dendreca, Wilsonia, Pyranga, Vireo, Lanivireo, Lophophanes, Coturniculus, Amnodromus, Spizella, Huspiza, Hedymeles, Cyanospiza, Pipilo, Cardinalis, Icterus, Corvus, Centurus, Melanerpes, Antrostomus, Coceyzus, Ortyx, and Cupidonia. feptiles—In this class the Eastern States are rich, possessing many peculiar forms not found in other parts of the region. Among snakes it has the genera Farancia and Dimodes belong- ing to the fresh-water snakes (Homalopsidz) ; the South Ameri- can genus laps; and 3 genera of rattlesnakes, Cenchris, Crotalophorus, and Crotalus. The following genera of snakes are said to occur in the State of New York :—Coluber, Tropido- notus, Leptophis, Calamaria, Heterodon, Trigonocephalus, Crotalus, Psammophis, Helicops, Rhinostoma, Pituophis, and Elaps. Among lizards, Chirotes, forming a peculiar family of Amphis- benians, inhabits Missouri and Mexico; while the remarkable glass-snake, Ophisaurus, belonging to the family Zonuride, is pecular to the Southern States; and the South American Spherodactylus, one of the gecko family, reaches Florida. Other genera which extend as far north as the State of New 134 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. York are, Scincus, Tropidolepis, Plestiodon, Lygosoma, Ameiva, and Phrynosoma. Tortoises, especially the fresh-water kind, are very abun- dant; and the genera Avomochelys, Chelydra, Terrapene, and Trionyx, are nearly, if not quite, confined to this division of the region. Amphibia.—Almost all the remarkable forms of Urodela, or tailed batrachians, peculiar to the region are found here only; such as Siren and Pseudobranchus, constituting the family Sirenide ; Menobranchus, allied to the Proteus of Europe ; Amphiuma, an eel-like creature with four rudimentary feet, constituting the family Amphiumide ; Notopthalmus, Desmognathus, and Meno- poma, belonging to the Salamandridé ; together with several other genera of widerrange. Of Anura, or tail-less batrachians, there are no peculiar genera, but the Neotropical genus of toads, Engystoma, extends as far as South Carolina. Fishes—Owing to its possession of the Mississippi and the great lakes, almost all the peculiar forms of North American fishes are confined to this sub-region. Such are Perca, Pileoma, Huro, Bryttus, and Pomotis (Percide); the families Aphredode- ridee and Percopsidee ; several genera of Cyprinodontide and Cyprinide ; and the family Polydontidee. Islands of the Alleghany Sub-reyion. The Bermudas.—These islands, situated in the Atlantic, about 700 miles from the coast of Carolina, are chiefly interesting for the proof they afford of the power of a great variety of birds to cross so wide an extent of ocean. ‘There are only 6 or 8 species of birds which are permanent residents on the islands, all com- mon North American species; while no less than 140 species have been recorded as visiting them. Most of these are stragglers, many only noticed once; others appear frequently and in great numbers, but very few, perhaps not a dozen, come every year, and can be considered regular migrants. The per- manent residents are, a greenlet (Vireo noveboracensis), the cat- bird (Galeoscoptes carolinensis), the blue bird (Sialia sialis), the cardinal (Cardinalis virginianus), the American crow (Corvus CHAP, XV. ] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 135 americanus), and the ground dove (Chamepelia passerina). The most regular visitants are a kingfisher (Ceryle aleyon), the wood- wagtail (Siurus noveboracensis), the rice-bird (Dolichonyx oryzivo- rus), and a moorhen (Gallinula galeata). Besides the American species, four European birds have been taken at the Bermudas: Saxicola enanthe, Alauda arvensis (perhaps introduced), Crea pratensis, and Scolopax gallinago. A common American lizard, Plestiodon longirostris, is the only land reptile found on the islands. IV. The Sub-Arctic or Canadian Sub-region. This sub-region serves to connect together the other three, since they all merge gradually into it; while to the north it passes into the cireumpolar zone which is common to the Pale- arctic and Nearctic regions. The greater portion of it is an exten- sive forest-district, mostly of coniferee; and where these cease towards the north, barren wastes extend to the polar ocean. It possesses several northern or arctic forms of Mammalia, such as the glutton, lemming, reindeer, and elk, which barely enter the more southern sub-regions ; as well as the polar bear and arctic fox; but it also has some peculiar forms, and many of the most characteristic Nearctic types. The remarkable musk-sheep (Ovibos) is confined to this sub-region, ranging over a con- siderable extent of country north of the forests, as well as Greenland. It has been extinct in Europe and Asia since the Post-pliocene epoch. Such purely Nearctic genera as Procyon, Latax, Erethizon, Jaculus, Fiber, Thomomys, and Hesperomys, abound, many of them ranging to the shores of Hudson’s Bay and the barren wastes of northern Labrador. Others, such as Blarina, Condylura, and Mephitis, are found only in Nova Scotia and various parts of Canada. About 20 species of Mammalia seem to be peculiar to this sub-region. Plate XX. Illustrating the Zoology of Canada—We have here a group of Mammalia characteristic of Canada and the colder parts of the United States. Conspicuous in the fore- ground is the skunk (Mephitis mephitica), belonging to a genus of the weasel family found only in America. This animal is 136 ZOOLOGICAL GEUGRAPHY. [PART II. celebrated for its power of ejecting a terribly offensive liquid, the odour of which is almost intolerable. The skunks are nocturnal animals, and are generally marked, as in the species represented, with conspicuous bands and patches of white. This enables them to be easily seen at night, and thus serves to warn larger animals not to attack them. To the left is the curious little jumping mouse (Jaculus hudsonius), the American representative of the Palearctic jerboa. Climbing up a tree on the left is the tree porcupine (Lrethizon dorsatus), belonging to the family Cer- colabide, which represents, on the American continent, the por- cupines of the Old World. In the background is the elk or moose (Alces americanus), perhaps identical with the European elk, and the most striking inhabitant of the northern forests of America, as the bison is of the prairies. Birds.— Although the Canadian sub-region possesses very few resident birds, the numbers which breed in it are perhaps greater than in the other sub-regions, because a large number of circum- polar species are found here exclusively. From a comparison of Mr. Allen’s tables it appears, that more than 200 species are regular migrants to Canada in the breeding season, and nearly half of these are laad-birds. Among them are to be found a considerable number of genera of the American families Tyran- nide and Mniotiltid, as well as the American genera Sialia, Progne, Vireo, Cistothorus, Junco, Pipilo, Zonotrichia, Spizella, Melospiza, Molothrus, Ageleus, Cyanura, Sphyrapicus, and many others ; so that the ornithology of these northern regions is still mainly Nearctic in character. Besides these, it has such specially northern forms as Surnia (Strigidee) ; Picoides (Picide) ; Pinicola (Fringillidz) ; as well as Lewcosticte, Plectrophanes, Perisoreus, and Lagopus, which extend further south, especially in the middle sub-region. No less than 212 species of birds have been col- lected in the new United States territory of Alaska (formerly tussian America), where a hummine-bird (Selasphorus rufus) breeds. The great majority of these are typically American, including such forms as Colaptes, Helminthophaga, Siwrus, Den- dreca, Myiodioctes, Passerculus, Zonotrichia, Junco, Spizella, Melospizpa, Passerella, Scoleophagas, Pediocetes, and Bonasa ; PLATE XX. A CANADIAN FOREST, WITH CHARACTERISTIC MAMMALIA. CHAP. XV.] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 137 together with many northern birds common to both conti- nents. Yet a few Palearctic forms, not known in other parts of the sub-region, appear here. These are Budytes flava, Phyl- loscopus kennicottii, and Pyrrhula coccinea, all belonging to genera not occurring elsewhere in North America. Considering the proximity of the district to North-east Asia, and the high probability that there was an actual land connection at, and south of, Behring’s Straits, in late Tertiary times, it is somewhat remarkable that the admixture of Palearctic and Nearctic groups is not greater than it is. The Palearctic element, however, forms so small a portion of the whole fauna, that it may be satisfactorily accounted for by the establishment of immigrants since the Glacial period. The great interest felt by ornithologists in the discovery of the three genera above-named, with a wren allied to a European species, is an indication that the faunas even of the northern parts of the Nearctic and Palearctic regions are, as regards birds, radically distinct. It may be mentioned that the birds of the Aleutian Isles are also, so far as known, almost wholly Nearctic. The number of land-birds known from Alaska is 77; and from the Aleutian Isles 16 species, all of which, except one, are North American. Reptiles—These are comparatively few and unimportant. There are however five snakes and three tortoises which are limited to Canada proper; while further north there are only Amphibia, represented by frogs and toads, and a salamander of the genus Plethodon. Fishes——Most of the groups of fresh-water fish of the Nearctic region are represented here, especially those of the perch, salmon, and pike families ; but there seem to be few or no peculiar genera. Insects—These are far less numerous than in the more temperate districts, but are still tolerably abundant. In Canada there are 53 species of butterflies, viz., Papilionide, 4; Pieride, 2; Nymphalide, 21; Satyride, 3; Lycenide 16, and Hesperide 7. Most of these are, no doubt, found chiefly in the southern parts of Canada. That Coleoptera are pretty numerous is shown, by more than 800 species having been collected on the 138 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART Ill. shores of Lake Superior; 177 being Geodephaga and 39 Longicorns. Greenland—This great arctic island must be considered as belonging to the Nearctic region, since of its six land mammals, three are exclusively American (J/yodes torquatus, Lepus glacialis, and Ovibos moschatus), while the other three (Vulpes lagopus, Ursus maritimus, and Rangifer tarandus) are circumpolar. Only fourteen land-birds are either resident in, or regular migrants to the country ; and of these two are European (Haliwetus albicilla, and Falco peregrinus), while three are American (Anthus ludovi- cianus, Zonotrichia leucophrys, and Lagopus rwpestris), the rest being arctic species common to both continents. The waders and aquatics (49 in number) are nearly equally divided between both continents; but the land-birds which visit Greenland as stragglers are mostly American. Yet although the Nearctic element somewhat preponderates, Greenland really belongs to that circumpolar debateable land, which is common to the two North Temperate regions. Concluding remarks—We have already discussed pretty fully, though somewhat incidentally, the status and relations of the Nearctic region ; first in our chapter on Zoological regions, then in our review of extinct faunas, and lastly in the earlier part of this chapter. It will not therefore be necessary to go further into the question here; but we shall, in our next chapter, give a brief summary of the general conclusions we have reached as to the past history and mutual zoological relations of all the great divisions of the earth. CHAP. XV. | THE NEARCTIC REGION. 139 TABLES OF DISTRIBUTION. In drawing up these tables, showing the distribution of various classes of animals in the Nearctic region, the following sources of information have been chiefly relied on, in addition to the general treatises, monographs, and catalogues used in the com- pilation of the 4th Part of this work. Mammalia.—Professor Baird’s Catalogue ; Allen’s List of the Bats; Mr. Lord’s List for British Columbia; Brown, for Green- land; Packard for Labrador. Birds—Baird, Cassin, and Allen’s Lists for United States ; Richardson’s Fauna Boreali Americana; Jones, for Bermudas ; and papers by Brown, Coues, Lord, Packard, Dall, and Professor Newton. 140 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. TABLE I. FAMILIES OF ANIMALS INHABITING THE NEARCTIC REGION. EXPLANATION. Names in italics show the families which are peculiar to the region. Names inclosed thus ( ) show families which barely enter the region, and are not considered properly to belong to it. Numbers correspond to the series of numbers to the families in Part IV. Order and Family. Sub-regions. MAMMALIA. CHIROPTERA. 10. Phylostomide 12. Vespertilionidee | 13. Noctilionide ... INSECTIVORA. 21. 22. Talpide ... Soricidee CARNIVORA. . Felide . Canide ... . Mustelidee . Procyonide ... . Urside . . Otariide... . Trichechide . Phocide... CETACEA. 36 to 41. UNGULATA. AT. 50. 52. Suide ... Cervide ... Bovide ... RODENTIA, 55. 57. 59. 60. 61. Muride ... Dipodidee Saccomyide ... Castoride Sciuride... Alle- ghanies. Range beyond the Region. Canada, Neotropical — | Cosmopolite | Tropical regions — | Palearctic — | The Eastern Hemisphere, excl. Australia — | All regions but the Australian — | All regions but the Australian — | All regions but the Australian — | Neotropical — | Palearctic, Oriental — |N. and §. temperate zones — | Arctic regions | — |N. and S. temperate zones | Oceanic All other continents but Australia — | All regions but Ethiopian and Australian — | Palearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental — |Almost cosmopolite — |Palarctic, Ethiopian — | Mexican sub-region | Palearctic | — | All regions but Australian 1. Turdide... . Sylviide... . Cinclide : Troglodytidie - 2. 5 6 7. Chameidue &. Certhiidee 9. Sittide ... 10, Paride ... 19. Laniide ... 20. Corvide ... 26. (Ccerebidee) 27. Mniotiltide ... | 28. Vireonide 29. Ampelidz 80. Hirundinide.. . 81. Icteride... 82, Tanagride 33. Fringillide 37. Alaudide 88. Motacillide . 39. Tyrannide PICARLE, 51. Picide 58. Cuculide 67. Alcedinide 73. Caprimulgide 74. Cypselide 75, Trochilidie PsITTACI, 80. Conuride CoLUMBz, 84, Columbide GALLINE. 87. Tetraonide 88. Phasianida ... 91. (Cracide) CHAP. XV. ] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 141 Sub-regions. Orderand Family. | | g|mx|,3 } a Range beyond the Region. Pcl askacl = - | | | 62. Haploodontide | — | | 66. Cercolabide ... | — | — | — | — | Neotropical 69. Lagomyide ... — — | Palearctic 70. Leporide ... | — | — | — | — | All regions but Australian MARSUPIALIA. | | 76. Didelphyide... = a | Neotropical BIRDS. PASSERES. Almost cosmopolite Almost cosmopolite Palearctic, Oriental, Andes All regions but Australian | Paleearctic, Oriental, Australian Palearctic, Oriental, Australian The Eastern Hemisphere The Eastern Hemisphere Cosmopolite Neotropical family Neotropical Neotropical Palearctic, Antilles, Guatemala Cosmopolite Neotropical Neotropical All regions but Australian All regions but Neotropical Cosmopolite Neotropical All regions but Australian Almost cosmopolite Cosmopolite Cosmopolite Almost cosmopolite Neotropical Neotropical Cosmopolite Almost cosmopolite Palearctic, Oriental, Ethiopian, Honduras Neotropical _ Order and Family. ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART IIT, Sub-regions. ACCIPITRES. 94. Vulturide 96. Falconide 97. Pandionide .. 98. Strigide GRALLA. 99. 100. 105. 107. 113. 114. 115. Charadriidze Gruide Ardeidse Ciconiide ANSERES. 118. Anatide 119. Laride... 120. Procellariidie 1 BAe 123; 124, 25: REPTILIA. OPHIDIA, Podicipidee Alcide ... 5, Calamariide ... 6. Oligodontide... 7. Colubride 8. Homalopside . Pythonide . Crotalidee LACERTILIA. . Chirotide 2. Teidie . Zonuridee . Chaleidee . Seincide . Geckotide . Iguanidee CROCODILIA. 56. Alligatoridee ... CHELONIA. Rallidee see Scolopacidee... Plataleide ... Pelecanide ... Colymbidee ... . Hlapide ... ... 57. Testudinide ... | 59. Trionychide ... 60. Cheloniide |oxnada, Range beyond the Region. All regions but Australiar Cosmopolite Cosmopolite Cosmopolite Cosmopolite Cosmopolite Cosmopolite All regions but Neotropical Cosmopolite Almost cosmopolite All the regions Cosmopolite Cosmopolite Cosmopslite Cosmopolite North temperate and arctic zones Cosmopolite North temperate and arctic zones All the regions Neotropical, Oriental, Japan Almost cosmopolite All the regions All tropical regions All tropical regions, Japan Mexico Neotropical All regions but Australian Neotropical Almost cosmopolite Almost cosmopolite Neotropical Neotropical All continents but Australian Ethiopian, Oriental, Japan Marine Neotropical, Palearctic, Oriental CHAP. XV. ] THE NEARCTIC REGION. 143, Order and Family. Sub-regions. Range beyond the Region. S£)Se/S8| 2 AMPHIBIA. URODELA. 2. Sirenide = 3. Proteide — Palearctic 4, Amphiumide — 5. Menopomide = Palearctic 6. Salamandridée — | — | — | — | Andes, Palearctic ANOURA. 10. Bufonidee a — | All continents but Australia 12. Engystomide.. = All regions but Nearctic 15. Alytide ... =| = All regions but Oriental Wien Ley lides — |— | — | — |All regions but Ethiopian 18. Polypedatidee All the regions 19. Ranide ... =] — | Almost cosmopolite FISHES (FRESH- | WATER). ACANTHOPTERYGII. 1. Gasterosteide a ee een al eal Pane GLC 8. Percide... ... | — | — | — | — | Cosmopolite 4, Aphredoderide = 12. Scienidee — |— | — | — | All regions but Australian 37. Atherinids — | — |) |) =) Palearctic PHYSOSTOMI. / 59. Siluride... — | — | — | —- | All warm regions 65. Salmonide — | — | — | — | Palearctic, New Zealand 66. Percopside — 70, Esocide ... — | — | — | — | Palearctic 71, Umbride | | aleearctic 73. Cyprinodontide | — | — | — All regions but Australian 74. Heteropygit ... = 75. Cyprinide — |-— | — | — |Notin S. America or Australia 77. Hyodontide ...| — | —| — | — | GANOIDEI. | OSH AMMA sa, (5 sp.), Patagonia to Greenland; Uvopsila (1 sp.), Mexico; Do- nacobius (2 sp.), Tropical America; Campylorhynchus (18 sp.), Brazil, and Bolivia to Mexico and the Gila valley ; Cyphorhinus (5 sp.), Equatorial South America to Costa Rica; Mierocerculus (5 sp), Brazil and Peru to Mexico; Henicorhina (2 sp.), Peru and Guiana to Costa Rica; Salpinctes (1 sp.), High Plains of Rocky Mountains; Catherpes (1 sp.), Mexico and Rio Grande; Cinnicerthia (2 sp.), Ecuador and Columbia. ('°) Sylvietta (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa,—is placed in this family by Mr. Tristram. PAMILY 7. CHAMAID. (1 Genus, 1 Species). GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS, PALZ ARCTIC ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS, SUB-REGIONS, AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, Se ee eed ed ee The bird which forms the genus Chamea inhabits California ; and though allied to the wrens it has certain peculiarities of strue- ture which, in the opinion of many ornithologists, require that it should be placed in a distinct family. FamiLy 8—CERTHIIDA. (6 Genera, 18 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. PaL#ARCTIC AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. SuB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL ——--—- | Bie 1.2.3.4) Sees | 1—3.4 | vee The Certhiide, or Creepers, form a small family whose species are thinly scattered over North America from Mexico, the Palee- arctic region, parts of the Oriental region, and Australia, where they are somewhat more abundant. The distribution of the genera is as follows: Certhia (6 sp.), Nearctic and Palearctic regions, Nepal, and Sik- him; Sa/pornis (1 sp.), Central India; Tichodroma (1 sp.), South CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 265 Europe to Abyssinia, Nepal, and North China; Rhabdornis (1 sp.), Philippine Islands; Climacteris (8 sp.), Australia and New Guinea, Famity 9.—SITTIDZ. (6 Genera, 31 Species.) ———— —————————— GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS, ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZ ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, AUSTRALIAN NEOTROPICAL | NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. == )1-2-3.4)1.2.3.4) ee (1.2.8.4 ae gee The Sittidee, or Nuthatches, are another small family of tree- creeping birds, whose distribution is very similar to that of the Certhiide, but with a more uniform range over the Oriental region, and extending to New Zealand and Madagascar. The genera are as follows :— Sitta (17 sp.), Palearctic and Nearctic regions to South India and Mexico; Dendrophila (2 sp.), Ceylon and India to Burmah and Malaya; Hypherpes (1sp.), Madagascar; Sittella (6 sp.), Australia and New Guinea. Acanthisitta (1 sp.) and Yenicus (4 sp.), New Zealand, are placed with some doubt in this family. Famity 10—PARIDA. (14 Genera, 92 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, —--3— | 1.2.9.4 1.2.3.4) 1.2.3 — | 1.2.3.4 | —2-4 | The Paride, or Tits, are very abundant in the Nearctic and Palearctic regions ; many fine species are found in the Himalayas, but they are sparingly scattered through the Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian regions. The genera usually admitted into this family are the following, but the position of some of them, especially of the Australian forms, is doubtful. (864 — 867 870) Parus (46 sp.), North America, from Mexico, Palearctic, and Oriental regions, Tropical and South Africa ; 266 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. " [PART Iv. (888 869) Lophophanes (10 sp.), Europe, the Higher Himalayas to Sikhim, North America to Mexico; Acredula = Oriies (6 sp.), Palearctic region; Melanochlora (2 sp.), Nepal to Sumatra ; Psaltria (1 sp.), Java; Psaltriparus (3 sp.), Guatemala to Cali- fornia, and Rocky Mountains; Awriparus (1 sp.), Rio Grande; (81 88) Parisoma (5 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (8 4) Atgithalus (6 sp.), South-east Europe to South Africa; (°° 55°) Aigithaliscus (6 sp.), Afghanistan and Himalayas to Amoy ; Cephalopyrus (1 sp.), North-west Himalayas ; Sylviparus (1 sp.), Himalayas and Central India ; Certhiparus (2 sp.), New Zealand ; (879 880) Snhenostoma (2 sp.), East and South Australia. Famity 11—LIOTRICHIDA. (11 Genera, 35 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. Saas [nan [s2n=[==a= [pee [ao The Liotrichidx, or Hill-Tits, are small, active, delicately- coloured birds, almost confined to the Himalayas and their ex- tension eastward to China. They are now generally admitted te form a distinct family. The genera are distributed as follows: (14°) Lrothria (3 sp.), Himalayas to China ; Siva (3 sp.), Hima- layas ; Minla (+ sp.), Himalayas and East Thibet ; Proparus (7 sp.), Nepal to East Thibet and Aracan; (1%*) Pteruthius (6 sp.), Himalayas to Java and West China; (1°) Cutia (2 sp.), Nepal; (°M) Yuhine (3 sp.), High Himalayas and Moupin; (°) Zzulus (3 sp.), Himalayas to Tenasserim ; (1) Myzornis (1 sp.), Dar- jeeling. ' Famity 12—PHYLLORNITHID. (3 Genera, 14 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. S| | — l1.2.3.4! CHAP. XVIJ1.] BIRDS. 267 the Phyllornithide, or “Green Bulbuls,” are a small group of fruit-eating birds, strictly confined to the Oriental region, and ranging over the whole of it, with the one exception of the Philip- pine Islands. The genera are :— (2) Phyllornis (12 sp.), India to Java, Ceylon, and Hainan ; (118°) Jora (4 sp.), the whole Oriental region; (1) Erpornis (2 sp.), Himalayas, Hainan, and Formosa. Famity 13.—PYCNONOTIDA. (9 Genera, 139 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. = | — |-2-4 | 1.2.0.4] 1.2.9.4| ee The Pycnonotide, Bulbuls, or fruit-thrushes, are highly charac- teristic of the Oriental region, in every part of which they abound; less plentiful in the Ethiopian region, and extending to Palestine and Japan in the Paleearctic, and to the Moluccas in the Aus- tralian region, but absent from the intervening island of Celebes. The genera are :— Microscelis (6 sp.), Burmah, the Indo-Malay Islands, and Japan ; Pycnonotus (52 sp., In many sub-genera), Palestine to South Africa, the whole Oriental region, China and Japan ; Alcurus (1 sp.), Himalayas; Hemixus (2 sp.), Nepal, Bootan, Hainan; Phyllastrephus (4 sp.), West and South Africa; Hypsi- petes (20 sp.), the whole Oriental region, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands; 7ylas (1 sp.), Madagascar ; Criniger (30 sp.), the whole Oriental region (excluding Philippines), West and South Africa, Moluccas; Zzonotus (7 sp.), West Africa; (2° 1°17) Setornis (3 sp.), Malacca, Sumatra, and Borneo; Jole (4 sp.), Aracan and Malaya; Andropadus (9 sp.), Tropical Atrica ; (+7) Lnoptilus (1 sp.), South Africa. 203 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. {PART IV. Famity 14—ORIOLID. (5 Genera, 40 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS, ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SuB-REGIONS, AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, —----— |---- | 1.2—4 (1.2.9.4 | 1.2.9.4 | 1.2—— The Orioles, or Golden Thrushes, are a small group charac- teristic of the Oriental and Ethiopian regions, migrating into the western Palearctic region, and with some of the less typical forms in Australia. The genera are :— Oriolus (24 sp.), Central Europe, throughout Africa, and the whole Oriental region, northward to Pekin, and eastward to Flores ; (1%) Analcipus (3 sp.), Himalayas, Formosa, Java and Borneo; Mimeta (9 sp.), the Moluccas and Australia; Sphecotheres (3 sp.), Timor and Australia. Artamia (1 sp.), Madagascar, — perhaps belongs to the next family or to Lantide. Famity 15—CAMPEPHAGIDZ. (3 Genera, 100 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC | PAL&ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. NFOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. } i | ----| —---- | 1.2.3.4 |1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3 — The Campephagide, or Cuckoo Shrikes, (Campephagine of the Hand List, with the addition of Cochoa) are most abundant in the Australian region (especially in the Austro-Malay sub- region) less so in the Oriental, and still less in the Ethiopian region. The genera, for the most part as adopted by Dr. Hart- laub, are as follows :— . Pericrocotus (22 sp.), the whole Oriental region,extending north to Pekin, and east to Lombok; (#4? — #4) Zanicterus (4 sp.), West and South Africa; (14 14°) Graucalus (25 sp.), the whole Oriental region, and eastward to Austro-Malaya, the New CHAP, XVIII. ] BIRDS. 269 Hebrides, and Tasmania; Artamides (1 sp.), Celebes ; Pteropo- docys (1 sp.), Australia ; (14 1° 1257 128) Campephaga (16 sp.), Austro-Malaya, and New Caledonia, Philippines, the Ethiopian region; Volvocivora (8 sp.) the Oriental region (excluding Philippines) ; Zalage (18 sp.), the whole Malay Archipelago to New Caledonia and Australia; Symmorphus (1 sp.), Australia ; Oxynotus (2 sp.), Mauritius and Bourbon; (2%) Cochoa (3 sp.), Himalayas, Java. The position of this last genus is doubtful. Jerdon puts it in the Liotrichide ; Sundeval in the Sturnide ; Bonaparte in the Dicruride; Professor Newton suggests the Pycnonotide ; but it seems on the whole best placed here. FamILy 16.—DICRURIDZE. (6 Genera, 58 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION, AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL SUB-RI GIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. =f. | _- ae | —_— FS ls. 9.9.4 | ¥.2.3.4)1.2— = The Dicruride, or Drongo Shrikes (Dicrurid of the Hand List, omitting the genus J/elenornis), have nearly the same distribution as the last family, with which they are sometimes united. They are, however, most abundant and varied in the Oriental region, much less so both in the Australian and Ethio- pian regions. The distribution of the genera is as follows :— Dicrurus (46 sp., in several sub-genera), has the range of the whole family, extending east to New Ireland, and one species in Australia; Chetorhynchus (1 sp.), New Guinea; Bhringa (2 sp.), Himalayas to Borneo (Plate IX. vol. i. p. 339); Chibia (2 sp.) Himalayas eastward to North China; Chaptia (3 sp.), all India to Malacca and Formosa; /rena (4 sp.), Central India, Assam, and Burmah to Borneo and the Philippine Islands, This last genus is placed by Jerdon among the Pycnonotide, but seems to come most naturally here or in the last family. 270 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART Iv. FamIty 17—MUSCICAPID. (44 Genera, 283 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. —--—-— | —--—---— [1.2.9.4 | 1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3.4 The Muscicapide, or Flycatchers (Muscicapine and Myiagrine of the Hand List, omitting Cochoa and including Pogonocichla) form an extensive family of usually small-sized and often bright- coloured birds, very abundant in the warmer regions of the Old World and Australia, but becoming scarce as we approach the temperate and colder regions. They are wholly absent from North and South America. The genera, many of which are not well defined, are distributed as follows :— Peltops (1 sp.), Papuan Islands ; Monarcha (28 sp.), Moluccas to the Carolines and Marquesas Islands, Australia and Tas- mania; Leucophantes (1 sp.), New Guinea; Butalis (4 sp.), Ethiopian and Palearctic regions, Moluccas and Formosa ; J/us- cicapa (12 sp.), Europe and Africa; Muscicapula (6 sp.), India to Western China; Alseonax (1 sp.), South Africa; Erythrosterna (7 sp.), Europe to China and Java; Newtonia (1 sp.), Madagascar ; Xanthopygia (2 sp.), Japan, China, Malacca; Hemipus (1 sp.), India and Ceylon; Pycnophrys (1 sp.), Java; Hyliota (2 sp.), West Africa; Hrythrocercus (2 sp.), West Africa and Zambesi; Micreca (6 sp.), Australia, Timor, and Papuan Islands ; Artomyias (2 sp.), West Africa; Psewdobias (1 sp.), Madagascar ; Hemiche- lidon (3 sp.), the Oriental region and North China ; Smithornis (2 sp.), West and South Africa; Megabias (1 sp.), West Africa; Cassima (2 sp.), West Africa; Bias, (1 sp.), Tropical Africa; Neltava (3 sp.), Himalayas to West China; Cyornis (16 sp.), the whole Oriental region; Cyanoptila (1 sp.), Japan, China, Hainan; Eumyias (7 sp.), India to South China, Ceylon, and Sumatra ; (1213 and 1216) Sinhia (8 sp.), North India, Formosa, Timor; An- thipes (1 sp.), Nepal; Seiswra (5 sp.), Australia and Austro- CHAP. XVIII. } BIRDS. 271 Malaya (excluding Celebes); (Zyiagra (16 sp.), Australia and Moluccas to Caroline and Samoa Islands: Hypothymis (2 sp.), Oriental region and Celebes ; E/minia (2 sp.), Tropical Africa ; Muscitodus (2 sp.), Fiji Islands ; Macherirhynchus (4 sp.), Papuan Islands and North Australia; Platystira (12 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; Lhipidura (45 sp.), the Oriental and Australian regions to the Samoa Islands and Tasmania; Chelidorynz (1 sp.), North India; IZyialestes (2 sp.), India to Ceylon, China, Java and Celebes ; Z'chitrea (26 sp.), the entire Ethiopian and Oriental regions, and to North China and Japan; Philentoma (4 sp.) Malacca, Sumatra, Borneo, and Philippine Islands; Todopsis (6 sp.), Papuan Islands ; (6°) Pogonocichla (1 sp.), South Africa ; (2061 — 1063) Bradyornis (7 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (14°) Chasiempis (2 sp.), Sandwich Islands, FamiLy 18—PACHYCEPHALID. (5 Genera, 62 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTiC SUB-REGIONS, PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ee Pa ee The Pachycephalidee, or Thick-headed Shrikes (Pachycepha- line of the Hand List omitting Colluricincla, Cracticus, and Pardalotus) are almost confined to the Australian region, a single species extending to Java and Aracan, and another (?) to Mada- gascar. The family has generally been united with the Laniide, but most modern ornithologists consider it to be distinct. The distribution of the genera is as follows :— Orewca (1 sp.), Australia; Falewnculus (2 sp.), Australia ; Pachycephala (44 sp.), Sula Islands (east of Celebes) to the Fiji Islands, and Australia; Hy/ocharis (4 sp.), Timor, Celebes, Indo- Malaya, and Aracan; Calicalicus (1 sp.), Madagascar; Kopsaltria (14 sp.), Australia, New Caledonia, and the New Hebrides; Ar- tamia (4 sp.), Madagascar,—may belong to this family, or to Laniide, Oriolide, or Artamide, according to different authors 272 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART 1V, FamiLty 19—LANIIDA. (19 Genera, 145 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. San eee ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. PAL ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. —--- | 1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3.4 | Lee 304i 223e8 eos The Laniide, or Shrikes (Laniine and Malaconotine of the Hand List, and including Collwricinela), are most abundant and varied in Africa, less plentiful in the Oriental, Australian, and Palearctic regions, with a few species in the Nearctic region as far as Mexico. The constitution of the family is, however, somewhat uncertain. The genera here admitted are :— Colluricinela (4 sp.), Australia and Tasmania; ectes (18 sp.), Papuan Islands, North Australia, to Pelew and Fiji Islands ; (Hea — setae it — 408) Lanius (o0 sp.), the whole Nearchic, Palearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions, one species reaching Timor, none in Madagascar; Zaniellus (1 sp.), Java; Hypocolius (1 sp.), Abyssinia and Upper Nile; Corvinella (1 sp.), South and West Africa; Uvolestes (1 sp.), South and East Africa; Tephro- dornis (4 sp.), Oriental region to Hainan and Java; Hypodes (1 sp.), West Africa; Fraseria (2 sp.), West Africa; Cuphopterus (1 sp.), Princes’ Island; Nilaus (1 sp.), South and West Africa ; Prionops (9 sp.), Tropical Africa; Ewrocephalus (2 sp.), North, Kast, and South Africa, and Abyssinia; Chaunonotus (1 sp.), West Africa; Vanga (4 sp.), Madagascar (Plate VI. vol. i. p. 278); Lamiarius (36 sp.), the whole Ethiopian region; Z'elephonus (10 sp.), all Africa and South Europe; Jeristes (2 sp.), Tropical end South Africa ; Nicator (1 sp.), East Africa. FaMILy 20.—CORVID/E. (24 Genera, 190 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. eres NProrTropican NEARCTIC ] PaLm#arcric | ETHiopiaNn ORIENTAL | AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.3.4/1.2.3.4 [1.2.9.4/1.2.9.4/1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3 i | | CHAP, XVIII.] BIRDS. ho ~I Ss) The Corvide, or Crows, Jays, &c., form an extensive and somewhat heterogeneous group, some members of which inhabit almost every part of the globe, although none of the genera are cosmepolitan. The true crows are found everywhere but in South America; the magpies, choughs, and nutcrackers are characteristic of the Palearctic region; the jays are Palearctic, Oriental, and American ; while the piping crows are peculiarly Australian. The more detailed distribution of the genera is as follows :— Sub-family I. Gymnorhininz (Piping Crows).—Strepera (4 sp.), and Gymnorhina (3 sp.), are Australian only; Cracticus (9 sp.), ranges from New Guinea to Tasmania (this is usually put with the Shrikes, but it has more affinity with the preceding genera) ; Pityriasis (1 sp.), Borneo (an extraordinary bird of very doubtful affinities) ; Grallina (1 sp.), Australia, is put here by Sundevall,—among Motacillide, by Gould. Sub-family II. Garruline (Jays)—Platylophus = Lophocitta (4 sp.), Malaya; Garrulus (12 sp.), Palearctic region, China and Himalayas ; Perisoreus (2 sp.), North of Palearctic and Nearctic regions; Cyanurus (22 sp.), American, from Bolivia to Canada, most abundant in Central America, but absent from the Antilles ; Cyanocorax (15 sp.), La Plata to Mexico; Calocitta (2 sp.), Gua- temala and Mexico; Psilorhinus (3 sp.), Costa Rica to Texas ; Urocissa (6 sp.), Western Himalayas to China and Formosa ; Cissa (3 sp.), South-eastern Himalayas to Tenasserim, Ceylon, Sumatra, and Java. Sub-family III. Dendrocittinee (Tree Crows).—Temnurus (3 sp.), Cochin China, Malacca to Borneo (not Java) ; Dendro- citta (9 sp.), the Oriental region to Sumatra, Hainan, and For- mosa ; Crypsirhina (3 sp.), Pegu, Siam, and Java; Ptilostomus (2 sp.), West, East, and South Africa. Sub-family IV. Corvin (Crows and Magpies).—Nucifraga (4 sp.), Paleearctic region to the Himalayas and North China; Pici- corvus (1 sp.), the Rocky Mountains and California; Gymnokitta (1 sp.), Rocky Mountains and Arizona (Plate XVIIL, Vol. II., p. 128); Pica (9 sp.), Palearctic region, Arctic America, and California; Cyanopica (3 sp.), Spain, North-east Asia, Japan ; VOL. IL. a 274 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY, [PART IV. Streptocitta (2 sp.), Celebes; Charitornis (1 sp.), Sula Islands ; Corrus (55 sp.), universally distributed except South America aid New Zealand, but found in Guatemala and the Antilles to Porto Rico; reaches the extreme north of Europe and Asia; (rymnocorvus (2 sp.), Papuan Islands; Picathartes (1 sp.), West Africa ; Corvultur (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa. Sub-family V. Fregilinee (Choughs).—Fregilus (3 sp.), moun- tains and cliffs of Palearctic region from West Europe to the Himalayas and North China, Abyssinia (Plate I., Vol. I., p. 195); Corcoraz (1 sp.), Australia. Famity 21.—PARADISEIDA. (19 Genera, 34 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, PaL®ARCTIC SuB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NrorroPicau SUB-REGIONS. SuB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL H | aw Ihe sida aia daa cs The Paradiseide, or “ Birds of Paradise,” form one of the most remarkable families of birds, unsurpassed alike. for the singularity and the beauty of their plumage. Till recently the family was re- stricted to about eight species of the more typical Paradise birds, but in his splendid monograph of the group, Mr. Elliot has combined together a number of allied forms which had been doubtfully placed in several adjacent families, The various species of true Paradise birds, having ornamental plumes deve- loped from different parts of the body, are almost wholly confined to New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands, one species only being found in the Moluccas and one in North Australia ; while the less typical Bower-birds, having no such developments of plumage, are most characteristic of the north and east of Australia, with a few species in New Guinea. The distribution of the genera according to Mr. Elliot’s monograph is as follows :— Sub-family I. Paradiseinve.—Paradisea (4 sp.), Papuan Is- lands ; Manucodia (3 sp.), Papuan Islands and North Australia ; Astrapia (1 sp.), New Guinea; Parotia (1 sp.), New Guinea ; Lephorhina (1 sp.), New Guinea; Diphyllodes (8 sp.), Papuan CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 275 Islands ; Xanthomelus (1 sp.), New Guinea; Cicinnurus (1 sp.), Papuan Islands; Paradigalla (1 sp.), New Guinea; Sexdioptera (1 sp.), Gilolo and Batchian. Sub-family II. Epimachine.—Zpimachus (1 sp.), New Guinea ; Drepanornis (1 sp.), New Guinea; Seleucides (1 sp.), New Gui- nea (Plate X., Vol. L, p. 414) ; Pétilorhis (4 sp.), New Guinea and North Australia. Sub-family Iil. Tectonarchinee (Bower-birds).-—Sericulus (1 sp.), Eastern Australia; Ptilonorhynchus (1 sp.), Eastern Aus- tralia; Chlamydodera (4 sp.), North and East Australia; /u- redus (3 sp.), Papuan Islands and East Australia ; Amblyornis (1 sp.), New Guinea. FaMILy 22—MELIPHAGID. (23 Genera, 190 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NroTroPIcaL NeEARcTIC | PALARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. ae | - --|- ot eee | ee (As in the Hand List, but omitting Zosterops, and slightly altering the arrangement.) The extensive group of the Meliphagidie, or Honey-suckers, is wholly Australian, for the genus Zosterops, which extends into the Oriental and Ethiopian regions, does not naturally belong to it. Several of the genera are confined to Australia, others to New Zealand, while a few range over the whole Aus- tralian region. The genera are distributed as follows :— Myzomela (18 sp.), has the widest range, extending from Ce- lebes to the Samoa Islands, and to Timor and Eastern Australia ; Entomophila (4 sp.), Australia and New Guinea; Gliciphila (10 sp.), Australia, Timor, New Guinea, and New Caledonia; Acan- thorhynchus (2 sp.), Australia and Tasmania; Meliphaga (1 sp.), Australia; Ptilotis (40 sp.), Gilolo and Lombok to Australia and Tasmania, and to the Samoa and Tonga Islands ; Melornis (5 sp.). Australia and Tasmania; Prosthemadera (1 sp.), Pogonornis (1 sp.), New Zealand ; Anthornis (4 sp.), New Zealand and Chatham Islands; Anthochera (4 sp.), Australia and Tasmania; an- 2 276 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. thotis (4 sp.), Papuan Islands and Australia; Leptornis (2 sp.), Samoa Islands and New Caledonia; Philemon = Tropidorhyncus (18 sp.), Moluccas and Lombok to New Guinea, Australia, Tas- mania and New Caledonia; Hntomiza (2 sp.), Australia; Mano- rhina (5 sp.), Australia and Tasmania; Huthyrhynchus (3 sp.), New Guinea; MMelirrhophetes (2 sp.), New Guinea; Melidectes (1 sp.), New Guinea; MMelzpotes (1 sp-), New Guinea; Melithrep- tus (8 sp.), New Guinea, Australia, and Tasmania; (*”) Moho (3 sp.), Sandwich Islands ; Chwtoptila (1 sp.), Sandwich Islands, FamiLty 23.—NECTARINIIDZ. (16 Genera, 122 Species.) G#NERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEorrROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIoPiin SUB-REGIONS. PatLARCTIC SUB-KEGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. OxkIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. SS | ee | —-2-—— | 1.2.9.4|1.2.3.4| 1.2 —— The Nectariniidie, or Sun-birds, form « rather extensive group of insectivorous honey-suckers, often adorned with brilliant me- tallic plumage, and bearing a superficial resemblance to the American humming-birds, although not in any way related to them. They abound in the Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian regions, as far east as New Ireland, and south to Queensland, while one species inhabits the hot Jordan Valley in the Pale- arctic region. For the Eastern genera I follow Lord Walden’s classification (Ibis, 1870); the African species not having been so carefully studied are mostly placedin one genus. The genera adopted are as follows :— Promerops (1 sp.), South Africa; Nectarinia (60 sp.), the whole Ethiopian region ; Cinnyricinclus (5 sp.), West Africa; Drepa- nornis (1 sp.), Madagascar; Arachnecthra (13 sp.), Palestine, all India to Hainan, the Papuan Islands, and North-east Aus- tralia; thopyga (15 sp,), Himalayas and Central India to West China, Hainan, Java, and Northern Celebes ; Mectarophila (5 sp.), Central India and Ceylon, Assam and Aracan to Java, Celebes and the Philippines; Chalcostetha (6 sp.), Malay Peninsula to New Guinea; Anthreptes (1 sp.), Siam, Malay Peninsula to CHAP. XVIII. | BIRDS. 277 Sula Islands, and Flores; Cosmeteira (1 sp.), Papuan Islands ; Arachnothera (15 sp.), the Oriental region (excluding Philippines) Celebes, Lombok, and Papuan Islands. Famity 24.—DICHID. (5 Genera, 107 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL NearcTic | PaL&aRCric SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-KEGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. NFOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. -— = — | SSS | ———_ 4 | 1.2.9.4] 1.2.9.4|1.2.9.4 The Diczide, or Flower-peckers, consist of very small, gaily- coloured birds, rather abundant over the whole Oriental and much of the Australian regions, and one genus extending over the Ethiopian region. The genera here adopted are the fol- lowing :— (©) Zosterops (68 sp.), the whole Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian regions, as far east as the Fiji Islands, and north to Pekin and Japan ; (4° — 4%) Dicwum (25 sp.), the whole Oriental region, except China, with the Australian region as far as the Solomon Islands; (4) Pachyglossa (2 sp. 87 M4), Nepal and Northern Celebes ; (*°) Piprisoma (2 sp.), Himalayas to Ceylon and Timor; (14°) Pardalotus (10 sp.), Australia and Tasmania ; (407 — 4°) Prionochilus (5 sp.), Indo-Malay sub-region and Papuan Islands. FaMILy 25—DREPANIDID. (4 Genera, 8 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. —_———— av, NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALAARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-KEGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-KEGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. oas5|=os-| =2c5)===5]==5= | =-8- The Drepanidide are confined to the Sandwich Islands, and I follow Mr. Sclater’s suggestion in bringing together the following genera to form this family :— Drepanis (3 sp.) ; Hemignathus (3 sp.) ; Loxops (1 sp.) ; Psit- tirostra, (1 sp.). If these are correctly associated, the great 278 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART Iv. differences in the bill indicate that they are the remains of a larger and more varied family, once inhabiting more extensive land surfaces in the Pacific. FAMILy 26—CCEREBIDA. (11 Genera, 55 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, >. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. EraloPran SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. -2.3.4|--3-— | aS | ----| ----| =e (According to the arrangement of Messrs. Sciater and Salvin.) - The Ceerebidee, or Sugar-birds, are delicate little birds allied to the preceding families, but with extensile honey-sucking tongues. They are almost wholly confined to the tropical parts of America, only one species of Certhiola ranging so far north as Florida, The following is the distribution of the genera :— Diglossa (14 sp.), Peru and Bolivia to Guiana and Mexico; Diglossopis (1 sp.), Ecuador to Venezuela; Oreomanes (1 sp.), Ecuador ; Conirostrum (6 sp.), Bolivia to Ecuador and Columbia ; Hemidacnis (1 sp.), Upper Amazon and Columbia; Dacnis (15 sp.), Brazil to Ecuador and Costa Rica; Certhidea (2 sp.), Gala- pagos Islands ; Cilorophanes (2 sp.), Brazil to Central America and Cuba; Careba (4 sp.), Brazil to Mexico; Certhiola (10 sp.), Amazon to Mexico, West Indies, and Florida; Glossoptila (1 sp.), Jamaica. FamiLy 27.—MNIOTII.TIDA. (18 Genera, 115 Species.) Sey GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. =203 64 1.2.3.4 So eee ecg | ---- | ey (Messrs. Sclater and Salvin are followed for the Neotropical, Baird and Allen for the Nearctic region.) The Mniotiltidee, or Wood-warblers, are an interesting group of small and elegant birds, allied to the preceding family and io the ereenlets, and perhaps also to the warblers and tits of Europe. CHAP. XVII. ] BIRDS. 279 They range over all North America from Panama to the Arctic regions, but do not extend far beyond the tropic in Southern America. They are almost as abundant in the Nearctic as in the Neotropical region ; and considering the favourable condi- tions of existence in Tropical America, this fact, in connection with their absence from the South Temperate zone would lead us to suppose that they originated in North Temperate America, and subsequently spread southward into the tropics. This supposi- tion is strengthened by the fact that their metropolis, in the breeding season, is to the north of the United States. The genera adopted by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin are as follows :— (%8) Stwrus (4 sp.), Venezuela and West Indies to Eastern States and Canada; Mniotilta (1 sp.), Venezuela, Mexico, and Antilles to the Eastern States ; Parula (5 sp.), Brazil to Mexico, and the Eastern States, and Canada; Protonotaria (1 sp.), Antilles to Ohio; Helminthophaga (8 sp.), Columbia to Arctic America Helmintherus (2 sp.), Central America to Eastern States; Peris- soglossa (1 sp.), Antilles and Eastern States ; Dendrwca (33 sp.), Amazon to Antilles, and Arctic America, and south to Chili ; Oporornis (2 sp.), Guatemala to Eastern States; Geothlypis (11 sp.). all North America and Brazil ; Myiodioctes (5 sp.), all North America and Columbia; Basileuterus (22 sp.), Bolivia and Brazil to Mexico ; Sedophaga (15 sp.), Brazil to Canada; Lrgaticus (2 sp.), Guatemala and Mexico; Cardellina (1 sp.), Guatemala and Mexico; (*“°) Granatellus (3 sp.), Amazon to Mexico ; (1441) Tere- tristis (2 sp.), Cuba; (°°) Tcteria (2 sp.), Costa Rica and United States to Canada. FaMmILy 28— VIREONIDZ. (7 Genera, 63 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-hEGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC | PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-KEGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-RFGIONS. -2.9.4 1.2.3.4 et | 22 | -~---| ---- (Messrs. Sclater and Salvin are followed for the Neotropical genera; Professor Baird and Mr. Allen for those of the Nearctic region.) 280 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IY. The Vireonid, or Greenlets, are a family of small fly-catching birds wholly restricted to the American continent, where they range from Paraguay to Canada. They are allied to the Mniotil- tidee and perhaps also to the Australian Pachycephalide. Only two of the genera, with about a dozen species, inhabit the Nearctic region. The distribution of the genera is as follows :— Vireosylvia (13 sp.), Venezuela to Mexico, the Antilles, the Eastern States and Canada; Vireo (14 sp.), Central America and the Antilles to Canada; Neochloe (1 sp.), Mexico; Hylophilus (20 sp.), Brazil to Mexico; Laletes (1 sp.), Jamaica; Vireolanius (5 sp.), Amazonia to Mexico; Cychlorhis (9 sp.), Paraguay to Mexico, Famity 29.—AMPELIDA. (4 Genera, 9 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-KEGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. = 23s |1-2.0.4|1.2.9.4] oe |---- | aAees The Ampelide, represented in Europe by the waxwing, are a small family, characteristic of the Nearctic and Palearctic re- gions, but extending southward to Costa Rica and the West Indian islands. The genera are distributed as follows :— (255°) Ampelis (3 sp.), the Paleearctic and Nearctic regions, and southward to Guatemala; (°°) Ptdlegonys (2 sp.), Central America ; (') Dulus (2 sp.), West Indian Islands; (°°) Phano- pepla (1 sp.), Mexico and the Gila Valley. FaMILy 30.—HIRUNDINIDZ. ( 9 Genera, 91 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ay 1.2.3.4/1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3.4 [1.2.9.4 [1.2.3.4 CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 281 The Hirundinidz, or Swallows, are true cosmopolites. Al- though they do not range quite so far north (except as stragglers) as a few of the extreme polar birds, yet they pass beyond the Arctic Circle both in America and Europe, Cotyle riparia having been observed in the Parry Islands, while Hirundo rustica has been seen both in Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla. Cotyle riparia and Chelidon urbica also breed in great numbers in northern Lapland, latitude 67° to 70° north. Many of the species also, have an enormous range, the common swallow (Airundo rustica) inhabiting Europe, Asia and Africa, from Lapland to the Cape of Good Hope and to the Moluccas. The genera of swallows are not well determined, a number having been established of which the value is uncertain. I admit the following, referring by numbers to the Hand List :— (215 — 221 226 — 228) Hirundo (40 sp.), the range of the entire family ; (2? 28) Psalidoprogne (10 sp.), Tropical and South Africa ; (4) Phedina (1 sp.), Madagascar and Mascarene Islands ; (*”) Petrochelidon (5 sp.), North and South America and Cape of Good Hope; (2 — 282 '234) Atticora (8 sp.), the Neotropical region and 2? Australia ; (7 287) Cotyle (11 sp.), Europe, India, Africa, North America, Antilles and Ecuador; (°°) Stelgidopteryx (5 sp.), La Plata to United States; (75 *** %) Chelidon (6 sp.), Palearctic region, Nepal, Borneo ; (74° — 74") Progne (5 sp.), all North and South America. Famity 31.—ICTERID. (24 Genera, 110 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. j.a..4|1-2.9.4| —~-— | ---=| —-——| ---- The Icteride, or American hang-nests, range over the whole continent, from Patagonia and the Falkland Islands to the Arctic Circle. Only about 20 species inhabit the Nearctic region, while, as usual with exclusively American families, the larger proportion of the genera and species are found in the 282 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. tropical parts of South America. The genera adopted by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin are the following :— Clypeicterus (L sp.), Upper Amazon; Ocyalus (2 sp.), Upper Amazon to Mexico; Ostinops (8 sp.), Brazil and Bolivia to Mexico; Cassiculus (1 sp.), Mexico; Cassicus (10 sp.), South Brazil and Bolivia to Costa Rica; Jcferus (84 sp.), La Plata to the Antilles and United States; Dolichonyx (1 sp.), Paraguay to Canada; Molothrus (8 sp.), La Plata to Northern United States ; Agelwus (7 sp.), La Plata and Chili to Northern United States ; Yanthocephalus (1 sp ), Mexico to California and Canada ; Xanthosomus (4 sp.), La Plata to Venezuela; Amblyrhamphus (1 sp.), La Plata and Bolivia; Gymnomystax (1 sp.), Amazonia and Guiana; Psewdoleistes (2 sp.), La Plata and Brazil; Lezstes (3 sp.), La Plata to Venezuela; Sturnella (5 sp.), Patagonia and Falkland Islands to Middle United States; Curawus (1 sp.), Chili ; Vesopsar (1 sp.), Jamaica ; Scolecophgaus (2 sp.), Mexico to Arctic Circle; Zampropsar (4 sp.), Amazonia and Ecuador to Mexico; Quisealus (10 sp.), Venezuela and Columbia to South and Central United States; Hypopyrrhus (1 sp.), Columbia ; Aphobus (1 sp.), Brazil and Bolivia; Cassidix (2 sp.), Brazil to Mexico and Cuba. Famity 32—TANAGRIDAE. (43 Genera, 304 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ——————— ee NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-KEGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. = a 1.2.9.4) =2,.3— | ——-—-— | ——-- | a | —--—-- The Tanagers are an extensive family of varied and beautiful fruit-eating birds, almost peculiar to the Neotropical region, only four species of a single genus (Pyranga) extending into the Eastern United States and Rocky Mountains. Southward they range to La Plata. They are especially abundant in the forest regions of South America east of the Andes, where no less than 40 out of the 43 genera occur; 23 of the genera are peculiar to this sub-region, while only 1 (Phlogothraupts) is CHAP. XVII. ] BIRDS. 283 peculiar to Central America and Mexico, and 2 (Spindalis and Pheenicophilus) to the West Indian islands. The genera adopted by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin with their distribution will be found at Vol. IL, p. 99, in our account of Neotzopical Zoology. FaMILy 33.—FRINGILLID. (74 Genera, 509 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. e———— ea NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSURALIAN SuB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS, 1.2.3.4 1.2.9.4 /1.2.9.4/1.2.3.4 1.2.3.4 -—-- The great family of the Fringillidee, or finches, is in a very un- settled state as regards their division into genera, the most di- vergent views being held by ornithologists as to the constitution and affinities of many of the groups. All the Australian finch- like birds appear to belong to the Ploceidie, so that the finches, as here constituted, are found in every region and sub-region, except the Australian region from which they are entirely absent —a peculiar distribution hardly to be found in any other family of birds. ~ Many European ornithologists separate the Emberizidz, or bun- tings, as a distinet family, but as the American genera have not been so divided I am obliged to keep them together; but the genera usually classed as “buntings” are placed last, as a sub- family. In the following arrangement of the genera, I have done what I could to harmonize the views of the best modern writers. For convenience of reference the succession of the genera is that of the Hand List, and the numbers of the sub-genera are given whenever practicable :-— (2793 17%) Fyingilla (6 sp.), the whole Palearctic region, includ- ing the Atlantic Islands ; (4"°*) Acanthis (3 sp.), Europe to Siberia, Persia, and North-West Himalayas; (1°) Procarduelis (1 sp.), High Himalayas and East Thibet ; (1° — 8°) Chrysomitris (18 sp.), Neotropical and Nearctic regions, Europe, and Siberia; (18) Metoponia (1 sp.), East Europe to North West Himalayas; (1% and 1809) Chiorospiza (9 sp.), Palearctic region and Africa to the 284 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IY. Cape of Good Hope ; (8° — 18°) Dryospiza (14 sp.), South Europe, Palestine, Canaries, and all Africa; (*%!°) Sycalis (18 sp.), the whole Neotropical region ; (81! — 1818 1816 — 1819) Pyrgita (34 sp.), Palearctic and Oriental regions, and all Africa; (18!) Montifrin- gilla (4 sp.), Palearctic region ; (18%) Fringillauda (2 sp.), North- West Himalayas to East Thibet ; (45° — 1822) Coccothraustes (6 sp.), Palearctic region and Nepal, Nearctic region to Mexico; (*°”) Eophona (2 sp.), China and Japan; (184) Mycerobas (2 sp.), Cen- tral Asia to Persia, High Himalayas, and East Thibet; (°”) Chaunoproctus (1 sp.), Bonin Islands, south-east of Japan, (probably Paleearctic) ; (18°) Geospiza (7 sp.) Galapagos Islands ; (8°) Camarhynchus (5 sp.), Galapagos Islands ; (188) Cactornis (4 sp.), Galapagos Islands ; (18°° — 1832) Phrygilus (10 sp.), Colum- bia to Fuegia and the Falkland Islands ; (18%%) Xenospingus (1 sp.), Peru; (8) Diuca (3 sp.), Peru to Chili and Patagonia; (8° and 1837) Hmberizoides (3 sp.), Venezuela to Paraguay ; (1°°°) Dona- cospiza (1 sp.), South Brazil and La Plata ; (8°) Chameospiza (1 sp.), Mexico; (1838 74 184) Himbernagra (9 sp.), Arizona to La Plata; (8!) Hemophila (6 sp.), Mexico to Costa Rica; (1%) Ailapetes (1 sp.), Mexico; (54%) Pyrgisoma (5 sp.). Mexico to Costa Rica; (1844 7¢ 184) Finilo (12 sp.), all North America to Guatemala ; (1*°) Junco (6 sp.), all the United States to Guate- mala; (147) Zonotrichia (9 sp.), the whole Nearctic and Neotro- pical regions ; (1*8 18) Melospiza (7 sp.), Sitka and United States to Guatemala; (18°) Spizella (7 sp.), Canada to Guatemala ; (8°) Pusserella (4 sp.), the Nearctic region and Northern Asia; (°°?) _ FPasserculus (6 sp.), Nearctic region and to Guatemala ; (18°) Pow- cetes (1 sp.), all United States and Mexico; (%*) Ammodromus (4 sp.), all United States to Guatemala ; (18°) Coturniculus (6 sp.), north and east of North America to Jamaica and Bolivia; (*°°°) Peucea (6 sp.), South Atlantic States and California to Mexico ; (77) Tiaris (1 sp.), Brazil; 78°) Volatinia (1 sp.), Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia ; (18°) Cyanospiza (5 sp.), Canada to Guatemala ; (180 1861) Paroaria (6 sp.), Tropical South America, east of the Andes; (%) Coryphospingus (4 sp.), Tropical South America ; (18°) Haplospiza (2 sp.), Mexico and Brazil; (84 8) Phonipara (8 sp.), Mexico to Columbia, the greater Antilles ; (8°) Poospiza CHAP, XVIII. ] BIRDS. 285 (13 sp.), California and South Central States to Bolivia and La Plata; (**) Spodiornis (i sp.), Andes of Quito ; (18° 18°) Pyrrhula (9 sp.), the whole Palearctic region to the Azores and High Himalayas ; (8) Crithagra (17 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, Mauritius, Syria; (3%) Ligurnus (2 sp.), West Africa; (187 1871) Carpodacus (18 sp.), Nearctic and Palearctic regions to Mexico and Central India; (#87? — 1874) Hrythrospiza (6 sp.), Southern parts of Palearctic region; (18°) Uvragus (2 sp.), Siberia and Japan ; (}8"°) Cardinalis (2 sp.), South and Central States to Venezuela: (87) Pyrrhuloxia (1 sp.), Texas and Rio Grande; (2878 1879) Guiraca (6 sp.), Southern United States to La Plata; (288°) Amaurospiza (2 sp.), Costa Rica and Brazil; (8°!) Hedy- meles (2 sp.), all United States to Columbia; (1°?) Pheucticus (5 sp.), Mexico to Peru and Bolivia; (°°) Oryzoborus (6 sp.), Mexico to Ecuador and South Brazil; (°°) Melopyrrha (1 sp.), Cuba; (88°) Loaigdla (4 sp.), Antilles; (5° 1887) Snpermophila (44 sp.), Texas to Bolivia and Uruguay ; (88°) Catamenia (4 sp.), Columbia to Bolivia; (8°) Neorhynchus (3 sp.), West Peru; (8%) Catamblyrhyncus (1 sp.), Columbia; (18) Zoxia (7 sp.), Europe to North-west India and Japan, Arctic America to Penn- sylvania, Mexico ; (8%) Pinzcola (3 sp.), Arctic America, North- east Europe to the Amoor, Camaroons Mountains West Africa ; (18) Propyrrhula (1 sp.), Darjeeling in the winter, ? Thibet ; (°°) Pyrrhospiza (1 sp.), Snowy Himalayas; ('S) Hematospiza (1 sp.), South-east Himalayas, 5,000 - 10,000 feet ; (5°5 18°) Linota (12 sp.), Europe to Central Asia, north and east of North Ame- rica; (1%) Lewcosticte (7 sp.), Siberia and Thibet to Kamschatka, and from Alaska to Utah. Sub-family Emberizine.—() Calamospiza (1 sp.), Arizona and ‘Texas to Mexico; (°°) Chondestes (2 sp.), Western, Central, and Southern States to Mexico and Nicaragua ; (297 — !°) Hu- spiza (9 sp.), Paleearctic region, India, Burmah, and South China, South-east United States to Columbia ; (4 —1%°) Hinberiza (28 sp.), the whole Palearctic region (continental), to Central India in winter; (11) Gubernatriz (1 sp.), Paraguay and La Plata, (according to Messrs. Sclater and Salvin this comes next to Pipilo) ; (8) Fringillaria (8 sp.), Africa and South Europe; 286 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. (1923 — 1925) Plectrophanes (6 sp.), Arctic Zone to Northern Europe and North China, Arctic America, and east side of Rocky Moun- tains; (1°°) Centronyx (1 sp.), Mouth of Yellowstone River. Famity 34.—PLOCEIDZ®. (29 Genera, 252 species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, Sea | --+ | i 1.2.9.4/1.2.9.4) 1.2.3 — The Ploceidz, or Weaver-finches, are especially characteristic of the Ethiopian region, where most of the genera and nearly four-fifths of the species are found; the remainder being pretty equally divided between the Oriental and Australian regions. Like the true finches these have never been properly studied, and it is exceedingly difficult to ascertain what genera are natural and how far those of Australia and Africa are distinct. The fol- lowing enumeration must therefore be taken as altogether ten- tative and provisional. When the genera adopted differ from those of the Hand List they will be referred to by numbers. Vemor (5 sp.); Tropical and. South Africa; (o — 16> Mer), ine phantornis (32 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (7° 1%) Sym- plectes (8 sp), Tropical and South Africa; M/alimbus (9 sp.), West Africa; (#69 1661) Ploceus (6 sp.), West and East Africa, the Orien- tal region (excluding Philippines); (°°) MNelicurvius (1_ sp.), Madagascar; Foudia (12 sp.), Madagascar and Mascarene Islands, Tropical Africa ; (#68 16) Snoropipes (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa ; (1% — 1667) Pyromelana (14 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, Abyssinia to 10,500 feet ; Phaleterus (1 sp.), South Africa ; Nigrita (7 sp.), West Africa to Upper Nile; Plocepasser (4 sp.), East and South Africa ; (2 — 1674) Vidua (7 sp.), Tropical and South Africa (Plate V., Vol. I, p. 264) ; (6% — 177) Coliuspasser (9 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; Chera (1 sp.), South Africa ; Spermospiza (2 sp.), West Africa; Pyrenestes (6 sp.), Tropical and Sotth A tries +) (82 — 2627 Ise? 16b2 1808 1808) Ei strildad, (26'sp:), tropical and South Africa, India, Burmah, and Java to Australia ; (268 16° CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. bo ee) ~] 1691 1695 1696) Pytelia (24 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (!%*) Hypargos (2 sp.), Mozambique and Madagascar ; (2°) Emblema (1 sp.); North-west Australia (16 142 — 117) Amadina (15 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, Moluccas to Australia and the Samoa Islands ; (27 171 1710) Snermestes (8 sp.), Tropical Africa and Mada- eascar ; (172) Amauresthes (1 sp.), East and West Africa; (27% W707 — 1709 1711) Munia (30 sp.), Oriental region to Timor and New Guinea; (17) Donacola (3 sp.), Australia ; (27° 17°) Poephila (6 sp.), Australia; G78 — 11) Hrythrura (7 sp.), Sumatra to Java, Moluccas, Timor, New Guinea, and Fiji Islands; (?’) Hypochera (3 sp.), Tropical and South Africa. FAMILY 35.—STURNIDAX. (29 Genera, 124 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NFOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ORI! NT\L AUSTRALIAN SUB-k&I GIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, | — | Stipa ee eee | 1.2.3.4 /1.2.3.4 1 = 3.4 The Sturnids, or Starlings, are a highly characteristic Old- World group, extending to every part of the great Eastern con- tinent and its islands, and over the Pacific Ocean to the Samoa Islands and New Zealand, yet wholly absent from the mainland of Australia. The family appears to be tolerably well-defined, and the following genera are generally considered to belong to it : (1558 1559 1562) Hulabes (13 sp.), the Oriental region to South-west China, Hainan, and Java,—and Flores, New Guinea and the Solo- mon Islands in the Australian region ; Ampeliceps (1 sp.), Tenas- serim, Burmah, and Cochin China; Gymnops (1 sp.), Philippine Islands ; Basilornis (2 sp.), Celebes and Ceram; Pastor (1 sp.), South-east Europe to India, Ceylon, and Burmah; Acridotheres (7 sp.), the whole Oriental region and Celebes ; (%%& %) Sturnia (12 sp.), the whole Oriental region, North China, Japan, and Siberia, Celebes ; Dilophus (1 sp.) South Africa ; Sturnus (6 sp.), Palearctic region, to India and South China in winter ; Stino- pastor (4 sp.), India to Burmah and East Java; Creadion (2 sp.) New Zealand ; Heterolocha (1 sp.), New Zealand ; (°°) Calleas 288 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. (2 sp.), New Zealand; Buphaga (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; Huryceros (1 sp.), Madagascar (see Plate VI, Vol. L, p. 278.) This genus and the last should perhaps form distinct families. (#7) Juida (5 sp.), Central, West, and South Africa ; (°®) Lamprocolius (20 sp.), Tropical and South Africa ; Cinny- ricinclus (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; Onychognathus (2 sp.), West Africa; (1%) Spreo (4 sp.), Tropical and South Africa ; (3552 — 1585) Amydrus (7 sp.), South and East Africa, Palestine ; Aplonis (9 sp.), New Caledonia to the Tonga Islands ; (1°87 — 198%) Calornis (18 sp.), the whole Malay Archipelago and eastward to the Ladrone and Samoa Islands ; (°°) Hnodes (1 sp.), Celebes ; Scissirostrum (1 sp.), Celebes; (1%) Saroglossa (1 sp.), Hima- layas ; (%) Hartlaubius (1 sp.), Madagascar ; F’regilupus (1 sp.), Bourbon, but it has recently become extinct; (**) Faleulia (1 sp)., Madagascar. FAMILY 36—ARTAMIDZ. (1 Genus, 17 Species.) GENERAL DIsTRIBUTION. ee NEOTROPICAL | Nearcric | PaLAaRcrTIc ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN Sup-recions. | Sup-recions. | Sup-nhecions. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | Sup-REGIONS. ---- | ----| aes |----!| 1.2.3.4 1,208 The Artamide, or Swallow-shrikes, are a curious group of birds, ranging over the greater part of the Oriental and Austra- lian regions as far east as the Fiji Islands and south to Tasmania. Only a single species inhabits India, and they are more plentiful in Australia than in any other locality. The only well-marked genus is Artamus. There are a few Madagascar birds belonging to the genus Artamia, which some ornithologists place in this family, others with the Laniide, but which are here classed with the Oriolide. CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 289 Famity 37—ALAUDID. (15 Genera, 110 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. —2.3— | Wi as ak oad | 1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3.4 | 1.2-—-— The Alaudide, or Larks, may be considered as exclusively belonging to the great Eastern continent, since the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Australian regions have each only a single species. They abound most in the open plains and deserts of Africa and Asia, and are especially numerous in South Africa. The genera, including those recently established by Mr. Sharpe, are as follows :— Otocorys (8 sp.) ; the Paleearctie region, North America and south to the Andes of Columbia, North India; (#95 18°) Alauda (17 sp.), Palearctic region, all Africa, the Peninsula of India, and Ceylon ; (7?!) Galerita (10 sp.), Central Europe to Senegal and Abyssinia, Persia, India and North China ; (1?) Calendula (2 sp.), Abyssinia and South Africa ; (1° 14) Calandrella (6 sp.), Europe, North Africa, India, Burmah, North China, and Mon- golia ; (19% — 1%7) Melanocorypha (7 sp.), South Europe to Tartary, Abyssinia, and North-west India; Pallasia (* ™*1), East Asia ; (78) Certhilauda (4 sp.), South Earope, South Africa ; Heterocorys (*. 792) South Africa; (1°) Alemon (3 sp.), South-east Europe to Western India, and South Africa; (°) Mirafra (25 sp.), the Oriental and Ethiopian regions to Australia; () Ammomanes (10 sp.), South Europe to Palestine and Central India, and to Cape Verd Islands and South Africa; (2% 1°) Megalophonus (6 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; Tephrocorys (1 sp.), South Africa ; Pyrrhulauda (9 sp.), all Africa, Canary Islands, India and Ceylon. VOL. I: . U 290. GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. Famity 38.—MOTACILLIDA. (9 Genera, 80 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.9.4/1.9.9.4|1.2.9.4/1.2.3.4/1.9.3.4 1.2.4 } The Motacillide, or Wagtails and Pipits, are universally dis- tributed, but are most abundant in the Paleearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions, to which the true wagtails are almost con- fined. The following genera are usually adopted, but some of them are not very well defined :— Motacilla (15 sp.), ranges over the greater part of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and to Alaskain North-west America ; Budytes (10 sp.), Europe, Africa, Asia to Philippines, Moluccas, Timor, and North Australia; Calobates (3 sp.), South Palearctic and Oriental regions to Java; Nemoricola (1 sp.), Oriental region ; Anthus (30 sp.), all the great continents ; Neocorys (1 sp.), Cen- tral North America ; Coryddlla (14 sp.), South Europe to India, China, the Malay Islands, Australia, New Zealand and the Auck- land Islands: Macronyx (5 sp.), Tropical and South Africa ; Heterura (1 sp.), Himalayas. FamiLty 39.—TYRANNIDA. (71 Genera, 329 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PaLAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.9.4|1.2.3.4 jee = | ga wee | ee eee: The Tyrannide, or Tyrant Shrikes, form one of the most ex- tensive and truly characteristic American families of birds; as they extend over the whole continent from Patagonia to the Arctic regions, and are found also in all the chief American islands—the Autiles, the Galapagos, the Falkland Islands, and CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 291 Juan Fernandez. As the genera are all enumerated in the table, at p. 101 of this volume, I shall here confine myself to the dis- tribution of the sub-families, only referring to such genera as are of special geographical interest. Sub-family I. CoNOPHAGIN (2 genera, 13 species). Confined to tropical South America, from Brazil and Bolivia to Guiana and Columbia. Sub-family II. TaNIoprerin#& (19 genera, 76 species). This eroup ranges from Patagonia and the Falkland Islands to the northern United States; yet itis almost wholly South American, only 2 genera and 4 species passing north of Panama, and none inhabiting the West Indian islands. Sayornis has 3 species in North America, while Tanioptera, Cripolegus, Muscisaxicola, and Centrites, range south to Patagonia. Sub-family III. PLAtYRHYNICHIN# (16 genera, 60 species). This sub-family is wholly Neotropical and mostly South American, only 7 of the genera passing Panama and but 3 reaching Mexico, while there are none in the West Indian islands. Only 3 genera extend south to the temperate sub-region, and one of these, Anerctes, has a species in Juan Fernandez. Sub-family IV. ELAINEINa (17 genera, 91 epetion This sub- family is more exclusively tropical, only two genera extending south as far as Chili and La Plata, while none enter the Nearctic region. No less than 10 of the genera pass north of Panama, and one of these, H/ainea, which ranges from Chili to Costa Rica has several species in the West Indian islands. About one fourth of the species of this sub-family are found north of Panama. Sub-family V. TyRANNIN# (17 genera, 89 species). This sub- family is that which is best represented in the Nearctic region, where 6 genera and 24 species occur. Jfilvulus reaches Texas ; Tyrannus and Myiarchus range over all the United States ; Sayornis, the Eastern States and California; Contopus extends to Canada; Lmpidonax ranges all over North America; and Pyrocephalus reaches the Gila Valley as well as the Galapagos Islands. No less than 5 genera of this sub-family occur in the West Indian islands. Wee 292 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART Iv. Famity 39a.—OXYRHAMPHID™. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) GENERAL DIsTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. Sg oo er The genus Oxyrhamphus (2 sp.) which ranges from Brazil to Costa Rica, has usually been placed in the Dendrocolaptide ; but Messrs Sclater and Salvin consider it to be the type of a distinct family group, most allied to the Tyrannide. Famity 40.—PIPRID. (15 Genera, 60 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ages a= [Sse5 | aye ee | aaa The Pipride, or Manakins, have generally been associated with the next family, and they have a very similar distribution. The great majority of the genera and species are found in the equatorial regions of South America, only 9 species belonging to 5 genera ranging north of Panama, while 2 or 3 species ex- tend to the southern limit of the tropical forests in Paraguay and Brazil. The genera which go north of Panama are Piprites, Pipra, Chiroxiphia, Chiromacheris, and Hetoropelma. Pipra is the largest genus, containing 19 species, and having representa- tives throughout the whole range of the family. As in all the more extensive families peculiar to the Neotropical region, the distribution of the genera will be found in the tables appended to the chapter on the Neotropical region in the Third Part of this work. (Vol. II. p. 103). OHAP, XVI] BIRDS. 293 FamiLy 41—COTINGID®. (28 Genera, 93 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS, AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, The Cotingids, or Chatterers, comprise some of the most beautiful and some of the most remarkable of American birds, for such we must consider the azure and purple Cotingas, the wine-coloured white-winged Pompadour, the snowy carunculated Bell-birds, the orange-coloured Cocks-of-the-Rock, and the mar- vellously-plumed Umbrella-birds, (Plate XV. Vol. II. p. 28). The Cotingide are also one of the most pre-eminently Neotropical of all the Neotropical families, the great mass of the genera and species being concentrated in and around the vast equatorial forest region of the Amazon, Only 13 species extend north of Panama, one to the Antilles, and not more than 20 are found to the south of the Amazon Valley. Messrs. Sclater and Salvin divide the family into six sub-families, the distribution of which will be briefly indicated. Sub-family I. Tiryrmv@ (3 genera, 22 species). Ranges from Brazil to Mexico, one species of Hadrostomus inhabiting Jamaica. Sub-family II. Lipavcin# (4 genera, 14 species) also ranges from Brazil to Mexico; one genus (Ptilochloris) is confined to Brazil. Sub-family IIT. ATTALIN# (2 genera, 10 species). Ranges from Paraguay to Costa Rica; one genus (Caszornis) is contined to South Brazil and Paraguay. Sub-family IV. RupicoLin# (2 genera, 5 species). This sub- family is restricted to the Amazonian region and Guiana, with one species extending along the Andean valleys to Bolivia. The genera are Rupicola (3 species) and Phenicocercus (2 species). Sub-family V. Cotineina (10 genera, 28 species). Ranges from Southern Brazil and Bolivia to Nicaragua; only two species 294 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART lV, (belonging to the genera Carpodectes and Cotinga) are found north of Panama, and there are none in the West Indian islands. The great majority of these, the true Chatterers, are from the regions about the Equator. Sub-family VI. GyMNODERIN# (7 genera, 14 species). Ranges from Brazil to Costa Rica; two species, of the genera Chasmor- hynchus and Cephalopterus, are found north of Panama, while there are none in the West Indian islands. Only 2 species are found south of the Amazon valley. FamILy 42.—PHYTOTOMID. (1 Genus, 3 Species.) ————————— GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALXARCTIC SUB-KEGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. WEOTROPICAL SuB-REGIONS. fee ea See J } | The Phytotomide, or Plant-cutters, are singular thick-billed birds, strictly confined to the temperate regions of South America. The single genus, Phytotoma, is found in Chili, La Plata, and Bolivia. Their affinities are uncertain, but they are believed to be allied to the series of families with which they are here associated. (Plate XVI. Vol. II. p. 128). FAMILY 43. EURYLAMIDZ. (6 Genera, 9 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL@ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. waa [aoe |oeas [ans [aneca | ao ) The Eurylemide, or Broad-bills, form a very small family of birds, often adorned with striking colours, and which have their nearest allies in the South American Cotingide. They have a very limited distribution, from the lower slopes of the Himalayas through Burmah and Siam, to Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. They are evidently the remains of a once extensive group, and from the small number of specific forms remaining, seem to be on CHAP. XVII. ] BIRDS. 995 the road to extinction. Thus we may understand their isolated geographical position. The following are the names and dis- tribution of the genera :— Lurylemus (2 species), Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo; Corydon (1 species), Malacca, Sumatra and Borneo (Plate IX. Vol. I. p. 339); Psarisomus (1 species), Himalayas to Burmah, up to 6,000 feet ; Sertlophus (2 species), Nepal to Tenas- serim ; Cymbirhynchus (2 species), Siam to Sumatra and Borneo ; Calyptomena (1 species), Penang to Sumatra and Borneo. Fami.y 44.—DENDROCOLAPTID. (43 Genera, 217 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NroTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL | | | Og ee eet | ee eee Bee The Dendrocolaptide, or American Creepers, are curious brown-coloured birds with more or less rigid tail feathers, strictly confined to the continental Neotropical region, and very numerous in its south-temperate extremity. They are divided by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin into five sub-families, to which JI shall con- fine my remarks on their distribution. The details of the numerous genera, being only interesting to specialists, will be given in the table of genera of the Neotropical region. No less than 13 of the genera are confined to South-Temperate America and the High Andes; 14 are restricted to Tropical South America, while not one is peculiar to Tropical North America, and only 15 of the 43 genera extend into that sub-region, showing that this is one of the pre-eminently South American groups. Sub-family I. FURNARIIN# (8 genera, 30 species). Ranges over all South America, 4 genera and 18 species being restricted to the temperate sub-region; one species is found in the Falkland Islands. Sub-family II. Screrurm (1 genus, 6 species). Brazil to Guiana, Columbia, and north to Mexico. Sub-family II. SyNaALLaxin (12 genera, 78 species). Ranges from Patagonia to Mexico; 7 genera and 28 species are confined 296 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART lV. to the temperate sub-region; species occur in the islands of Mas-a-fuera, Trinidad, and Tobago. Sub-family IV. Puintyporina (6 genera, 35 species). Con- fined to Tropical America from Brazil to Mexico; 4 genera and 8 species occur in Tropical North America. Sub-family V. DenpRocoLaprin® (14 genera, 59 species). Ranges from Chili and La Plata to Mexico; only 3 species occur in the South Temperate sub-region, while 9 of the genera extend into Tropical North America. Two of the continental species occur in the island of Tobago, which, together with Trinidad, forms part of the South American rather than of the true Antillean sub-region. Famity 45.—FORMICARIIDA. (32 Genera, 211 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ~a.a—|----|---- ea |----| a ee The Formicariide, comprising the Bush-Shrikes and Ant- thrushes, form one of the most exclusively Neotropical families; and the numerous species are rigidly confined to the warm and wooded districts, only a single species extending to La Plata, and none to the Antilles or to the Nearctic region. Less than 30 species are found north of Panama. Messrs. Sclater and Salvin divide the group into three sub-families, whose distribution may be conveniently treated, as in the Den- drocolaptidee, without enumerating the genera. Sub-family I. THAMNOPHILINA.—(10 genera, 70 species.) One species of Thamnophilus inhabits La Plata; only 5 genera and 12 species are found north of Panama, the species of this sub-family being especially abundant in the Equatorial forest districts. Sub-family I]. Formictvorin.—(14 genera, 95 species.) Only 8 species occur north of Panama, and less than one-third of the species belong to the districts south of the Equator. CHAP, XVIII. ] BIRDS. 297 Sub-family III. Formicarnna,—(8 genera, 46 species.) About 12 species occur north of Panama, and only 5 south of the Equa- torial district. It appears, therefore, that this extensive family is especially characteristic of that part of South America from the Amazon valley northwards. FamILy 46.—PTEROPTOCHID. (8 Genera, 19 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. Te we eee (ae ee ee The Pteroptochidze are a group of curious Wren-lke birds, almost confined to the temperate regions of South America, extending along the Andes beyond the Equator, and with a few species In South-east Brazil, and one in the valley of the Madeira. The genera are as follows :— Scytalopus (8 sp.), Chili and West Patagonia to the Andes of Columbia; Merulaxis (1 sp.), South-east Brazil; Rhinoerypta (2 sp.), Northern Patagonia and La Plata ; Lioscelis (1 sp.), Madeira valley ; Pteroptochus (2 sp.), Chili; Hylactes (3 sp.), Western Patagonia and Chili; Acropternis (1 sp.), Andes of Ecuador and Columbia; Z7riptorhinus (1 sp.), Chili. Faminty 47—PITTIDZ. (4 Genera, 40 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. | Bae ee | eae | ee 32.8.4 i The Pittas comprise a number of beautifully-coloured Thrush- like birds, which, although confined to the Old World, are more nearly allied to the South American Pteroptochide than to any other family. They are most abundant in the Malay Archipelago, 298 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART LV. between the Oriental and Australian divisions of which they are pretty equally divided. They seem, however, to attain their maximum of beauty and variety in the large islands of Borneo and Sumatra; from whence they diminish in numbers in. every direction till we find single species only in North China, West Africa, and Australia, The genera here adopted are the following :— (1087 1088 1099 1092 1098) Pitta (33 sp.), has the range of the family; (°°) Hydrornis (3 sp.), Himalayas and Malaya; Eucichla (3 sp.), Malaya; Melampitta (1 sp.), recently discovered in New Guinea. Famity 48.—PAICTID®. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, NeEaRCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL | AUSrRALIAN | —--- -—-- Si cae die ear | ier | fe ee This family was established by Professor Sundevall, for an anomalous bird of Madagascar, which he believes to have some affinity for the American Formicariide, but which perhaps comes best near the Pittas. The only genus is Philepitta, con- taining two species. FAMILY 49.—MENURID. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC | ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ware jsene [aanm | a= The Menuride, or Lyre Birds, remarkable for the extreme elegance of the lyre-shaped tail in the species first discovered, are birds of a very anomalous structure, and have no near affinity to any other family. Two species of Menwra are known, con- fined to South and East Australia (Plate XII. Vol. I. p. 441). CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 299 FamiLy 50.—ATRICHIID. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS, SUB-REGIONS. | ee ee | The genus Africhia, or Scrub-birds of Australia, have been formed into a separate family by Professor Newton, on account of peculiarities in the skeleton which separate them from all other Passeres. Only two species are known, inhabiting East and West Australia respectively. They are very noisy, brown- coloured birds, and have been usually classed with the warblers, near Amytts and other Australian species. General remarks on the distribution of the Passeres. The order Passeres, is the most extensive among birds, comprehending about 5,700 species grouped in 870 genera, and 51 families. The distribution of the genera, and of the families considered individually, has been already sufficiently given, and we now have to consider the peculiarities of dis- tribution of the families collectively, and in their relations to each other, as representing well-marked types of bird-structure. The first thing to be noted is, how very few of these families are truly cosmopolitan; for although there are seven which are found in each of the great regions, yet few of these are widely distributed throughout all the regions, and we can only find three that inhabit every sub-region, and are distri- buted with tolerable uniformity; these are the Hirundinide, or swallows, the Motacillidee or wagtails and pipits, and the Corvide or crows,—but the latter is a family of so hetero- geneous a nature, that it possibly contains the materials of several natural families, and if so divided, the parts would probably all cease to be cosmopolitan. The Sylviide, the 300 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. Turdide, and the Paride, are the only other families that ap- proach universality of distribution, and all these are want- ing in one or more sub-regions. If, now, we divide the globe into the New and the Old World, the former including the whole American continent, the latter all the rest of the earth, we find that the Old World possesses exclusively 23 families, the New World exclusively 14, of which 5 are common to North and South America. But if we take the division proposed by Professor Huxley—a northern world, comprising our first four regions (from Nearctic to Oriental), and a southern world comprising our last two regions (the Australian and Neotropical)—we find that the northern division possesses only 5 families exclusively, and the southern division 13 exclusively, of which not one is common to Australia and South America. This plainly indicates that, as far as the Passeres are concerned, the latter bipartite division is not so natural as the former. Again, if we compare temperate with tropical families (not too rigidly, but as regards their general character), we find in the northern hemisphere only two families that have the character of being typically temperate—the Cinclide, and in a less degree the Ampelide—both of small extent. In the southern hemi- sphere we have also two, the Phytotomide, and in a less degree, the Pteroptochide ; making two wholly and two mainly tem- perate families. Of exclusively tropical families on the other hand, we have about 12, and several others that are mainly tropical. The several regions do not differ greatly in the number of families found in each. The Nearctic has 19, the Palearctic 21, the Ethiopian 23, the Oriental 28, the Australian 29, and the Neotropical 23. But many of these families are only represented by a few species, or in limited districts ; and if we count only those families which are tolerably well represented, and help to form the ornithological character of the region, the richness of the several tropical regions will appear to be (as it really is) com- paratively much greater. The families that are confined to single regions are not very numerous, except in the case of the Neotropical region, which has 5. The Australian has only CIIAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 391 3, the Oriental 1, the Ethiopian 1, and the other regions have no peculiar families. The distribution of the Passeres may be advantageously considered as divided into the five series of Turdoid, Tanagroid, Sturnoid, Formicarioid, and Anomalous Passeres. The Turdoid Passeres, consisting of the first 23 families, are especially characteristic of the Old World, none being found exclusively in America, and only two or three being at all abundant there. The Tanagroid Passeres (Families 24-335) are very characteristic of the New World, five being confined to it, and three others being quite as abundant there as in the Old World; while there is not a single exclusively Old World family in the series, except the Drepanididz confined to the Sandwich Islands. The Sturnoid Passeres (Families 34-38) are all exclusively Old World, except that two larks inhabit parts of North America, and a few pipits South America. The Formicarioid Passeres (Families 59-48) are strikingly characteristic of the New World, to which seven of the families exclusively belong; the two Old World groups being small, and with a very restricted distribution. The Anomalous Passeres (Families 49-50) are confined to Australia. The most remarkable feature in the geographical distribution of the Passeres is the richness of the American continent, and the large development of characteristic types that occurs there. The fact that America possesses 14 altogether peculiar families, while no less than 23 Old-World families are entirely absent from it, plainly indicates, that, if this division does not represent the most ancient and radical separation of the land surface of the globe, it must still be one of very great antiquity, and have modified in a very marked way the distribution of all living things. Not less remarkable is the richness in specific forms of the 13 peculiar American families. These contain no less than 1,570 species, leaving only about 500 American species in the 13 other Passerine families represented in the New World. If we make a deduction for those Nearctic species which occur only north of Panama, we may estimate the truly Neotropical species of Passerine birds at 1,900, which is almost exactly 302 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. one-third of the total number of Passeres; a wonderful illus- tration of the Ornithological riches of South America. Order IT—PICARI 4. Famity 51—PICIDA. (36 Genera, 320 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.8.41.2.9.4/1.2.3.3/1.2.9- 1.2.3.4 | — —— | NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. The Woodpeckers are very widely distributed, being only absent from the Australian region beyond Celebes and Flores. They are most abundant in the Neotropical and Oriental regions, both of which possess a number of peculiar genera ; while the other regions possess few or no peculiar forms, even the Ethiopian region having only three genera not found elsewhere. The soft- tailed Picumnine inhabit the tropical regions only, Picwmnus being Neotropical, Vivia and Sasia Oriental, and Verreauxia Ethiopian. Picoides, or Apternius, is an Arctic form peculiar to the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, Celeus, Chrysoptilus, Chloro- nerpes, and some smaller genera, are Neotropical exclusively, and there are two peculiar forms in Cuba. Yungipicus, Chryso- colaptes, Hemicercus, Mulleripicus, Brachypternus, Tiga, and Micropternus, are the most important of the peculiar Oriental genera. Dendropicus and Geocolaptes are Ethiopian ; but there are no woodpeckers in Madagascar. The Palearctic woodpeckers belong to the genera Picus—which is widely distributed, Gecinus —which is an Oriental form, and Dryocopus—which is South American. Except Picoides, the Nearctic woodpeckers are mostly of Neotropicalgenera; but Sphyrapicus and Hylatomus are peculiar. The geological record is, as yet, almost silent as to this family ; lut remains doubtfully referred to it have been found in the Miocene of Europe and the Eocene of the United States. Yet the group is evidently one of very hich antiquity, as is shown by CHAP, XVIII. BIRDS. 303 its extreme isolation, its great specialization of structure, its abundant generic forms, and its wide distribution. It originated, probably, in Central Asia, and passed through the Nearctic region to South America, in whose rich and varied forests it found the conditions for rapid development, and for the speciali- zation of the many generic forms now found there. A large number of genera have been established by various authors, but their limitations and affinities are not very well made out. Those which seem best established are the fol- lowing :— (207 — 212) Picumnus (22 sp.), Tropical South America to Hon- duras; (7%) Vivia (1 sp.), Himalayas to East Thibet; (7) Sasia (2 sp.), Nepal to Java; (2%) Verreauxia (1 sp.), West Africa ; Picoides (5 sp.), northern parts of Nearctic and Palie- arctic regions, and Mountains of East Thibet; Pzcus (42 sp.), the whole Palearctic, Oriental, Nearctic, and Neotropical regions ; (7°3) Hyopicus (2 sp.), Himalayas and North China; (74) Yungi- picus (16 sp.), Oriental region, and to Flores, Celebes, North China, and Japan ; (7127 — 72°) Sphyrapicus (7 sp.), Nearctic re- gion, Mexico, and Bolivia; (7° — 2188 219°) Campephilus (14 sp.), Neotropical and Nearctic regions ; Hylatomus (1 sp.), Nearctic region; (7287 214) Dryocopus (5 sp.), Mexico to South Brazil, Central and Northern Europe; (7!) Reinwardtipicus (1 sp.), Penang to Borneo; (72 786) Venilia (2 sp.), Nepal to Borneo ; Chrysocolaptes (8 sp.), India and Indo-Malaya; Dendropicus (16 sp.), Tropical and South Africa ; Hemicercus (5 sp.), Malabar and Pegu to Malaya; Gecinus (18 sp.), Paleearctic and Oriental re- gions to Java; (7! — 2156) Dendromus (15 sp.), West and South Africa, Zanzibar, and Abyssinia; (717 — 25°) Mudlleripicus (6 sp.), Malabar, Pegu, Indo-Malaya, and Celebes; Ce/eus (17 sp.), Para- guay to Mexico ; Wesoceleus ( sP. 83°) Cuba; (726) Chrysoptilus (9 sp.), Chili and South Brazil to Mexico; Brachypternus (5 sp.), India, Ceylon, and China; (2 76) Z%iga (5 sp.), all India to Malaya; (7%) Gecinulus (2 sp.), South-east Himalayas to Bur- mah ; Centurus (13 sp.), Nearctic Region to Antilles and Vene- mela; Chloronerpes (85 sp.), Tropical America, Hayti; (2!) Niphidiopicus (1 sp.), Cuba; Melanerpes (11 sp.), Brazil to 304 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. Canada, Porto Rico; JLeuconerpes (1 sp.), Bolivia to North Brazil; Colaptes (9 sp.), La Plata and Bolivia to Arctic America, Greater Antilles; Hypoxanthus (1 sp.), Venezuela and Ecuador ; (7187) Geocolaptes (1 sp.), South Africa; JILiglyptes (3 sp.), Malaya ; Micropternus (8 sp.), India and Ceylon to South China, Sumatra and Borneo. Famity 52—YUNGID. (1 Genus, 5 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, | | Beri Es. a reo )2:2.8-4 | oe aa etme (Sea The Wrynecks (Yunx), which constitute this family, are small tree-creeping birds characteristic of the Palearctic region, but extending into North and East Africa, over the greater part of the peninsula of India (but not to Ceylon), and just reaching the lower ranges of the Himalayas. There is also one species isolated in South Africa, Fami.y 53.—INDICATORID. (1 Genus, 12 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ~--- |----|----{1.2.8-|--s.4)---- The Honey-guides (Jndicator) constitute a small family of doubtful affinities; perhaps most nearly allied to the wood- peckers and barbets. They catch bees and sometimes kill small birds ; and some of the species are parasitical like the cuckoo. Their distribution is very interesting, as they are found in every part of the Ethiopian region, except Madagascar, and in the Oriental region only in Sikhim and Borneo, being absent from the peninsula of India which is nearest, both geographically and zoologically, to Africa. CHAP, XVIII. ] BIRDS. 505 Famizy 54. MEGALASMIDAS. (18 Genera, 81 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. WEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS PALHZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS =243— |---- | --- = Ja.2.—|1.0.3.4| ey The Mevgalemid, or Barbets, consist of rather small, fruit- eating birds, of heavy ungraceful shape, but adorned with the most gaudy colours, especially about the head and neck. They form a very isolated family ; their nearest allies being, perhaps, the still more isolated Toucans of South America. Barbets are found in all the tropics except Australia, but are especially characteristic of the great Equatorial forest-zone; all the most remarkable forms being confined to Equatorial America, West Africa, and the Indo-Malay Islands. They are most abundant in the Ethiopian and Oriental regions, and in the latter are universally distributed. In the beautiful monograph of this family by the Messrs. Marshall, the barbets are divided into three sub-familes, as follows :— Pogonorhynchine (3 genera, 15 sp.), which are Ethiopian except the 2 species of Zetragonops, which are Neotropical ; Megaleemine (6 genera, 45 sp.), which are Oriental and Ethio- pian; and Capitonine (4 genera, 18 sp.), common to the three regions. The genera are each confined to a single region. Africa possesses the largest number of peculiar forms, while the Oriental region is richest in species. This is probably a very ancient group, and its existing dis- tribution may be due to its former range over the Miocene South Palearctic land, which we know possessed Trogons, Parrots, Apes, and Tapirs, groups which are now equally abundant in Equatorial countries. VOL. II. xX 306 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART iv, The following is a tabular view of the genera with their distribution :— a | . . *° e = ° . Genera | Ethiopian Region. Oriental Region. | Neotropical Region, POGONORHYNCHIN.E. | ‘Tricholema ... 1sp.. W. Africa Pogonorhynchus 12 ,, All Trop. & S. Af. NetragorOpsi Wa. 02) e, oii oe ‘Peru & Costa Rica : MEGALEMIN#. | | eet ee ee | The whole region: Megalema 29 Xantholema cd se bee The whole region Xylobueco Oe We eAirica | Barbatula 9 ,,| Trop. & S. Africa Psilopogon solos} Pe a | Sumatra Gymnobucco .. 2,, | W. Africa | CAPITONINE. | | Trachyphonus... 5 ,, Trop. & S. Africa | | Capito= a. ..0 LO, | tes ae | a ep Equatorial Amer. | to Costa Rica Calorhamphus... 2 ,, | ees al Malay Pen., Su- | matra, Borneo Stactolema ... 1,, | W. Africa FaMiLy 55—RHAMPHASTID.E. (5 Genera, 51 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-KEGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL NrarcTic | PaLzarctic | ETalopiin SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REG.ONS. SUB-KEGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. The Toncans form one of the most remarkable and charac- teristic families of the Neotropical region, to which they are strictly confined. They differ from all other birds by their long feathered tongues, their huge yet elegant bills, and the peculiar texture and coloration of their plumage. Being fruit-eaters, and strictly adapted for an arboreal life, they are not found beyond the forest regions; but they nevertheless range from Mexico to Paraguay, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. One genus, CHAP. XV111.] BIRDS. B07 Andigena, is confined to the forest slopes of the South American Andes. The genera are :— Rhamphastos (12 sp.), Mexico to South Brazil; Preroglossus (16 sp.), Nicaragua to South Brazil (Plate XV. Vol. IL. p. 28); Selenidera (7 sp.), Veragua to Brazil, east of the Andes; Andi- gena (6 sp.), the Andes, from Columbia to Bolivia, and West Brazil; Aulacorhamphus (10 sp.), Mexico to Peru and Bolivia. Fairy 56.—MUSOPHAGID. (2 Genera, 18 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. Neotroricat | NEARCTIC SuB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-KEGIONS. Eraiopiin | ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. The Musophagide, or Plantain-eaters and Turacos, are hand- some birds, somewhat intermediate between Toucans and Cuc- koos. They are confined to the Ethiopian region and are most abundant in West Africa. The Plantain eaters (Musophaya, 2 sp.), are confined to West Africa; the Turacos (Turacus, 16 sp., including the sub-genera Corythaix and Schizorhis) range over all Africa from Abyssinia to the Cape (Plate V. Vol. I. p. 264). Famity 57.—COLIID. (1 Genus, 7 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ——— ae NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALZARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SvuB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-KEGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, ee is | ---- |---- |1-2.8-]--- 3--= The Colies, consisting of the single genus Colius, are an anomalous group of small finch-like birds, occuping a position between the Picariz and Passeres, but of very doubtful affinities. Their range is nearly identical with that of the Musophagide, but they are most abundant in South and East Africa. xX 2 3508 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. Famity 58.—CUCULID. (35 Genera, 180 Species.) GENERAL DIsTRIBUTION. PALARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. N&aARcTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-KEGIONS, AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.9.4)1.2.3 — 1.2.3.4 /1:2.3.4 (1.2.3.4 (1.2.8.4 The Cuculide, of which our well-known Cuckoo is one of the most widely distributed types, are essentially a tropical group of weak insectivorous birds, abounding in varied forms in all the warmer parts of the globe, but very scarce or only appearing as migrants in the temperate and colder zones. Many of the smaller Eastern species are adorned with the most intense golden or violet metallic lustre, while some of the larger forms have gaily-coloured bills or bare patches of bright red on the cheeks. Many of the cuckoos of the Eastern Hemisphere are parasitic, laying their eggs in other birds’ nests ; and they are also remarkable for the manner in which they resemble other birds, as hawks, pheasants, or drongo-shrikes. The distribution of the Cuckoo family is rather remarkable. They abound most in the Oriental region, which produces no less than 18 genera, of which 11 are peculiar ; the Australian has 8, most of which are also Ori- ental, but 3 are peculiar, one of these being confined to Celebes and closely allied to an Oriental group ; the Ethiopian region has only 7 genera, all of which are Oriental but three, 2 of these being peculiar to Madagascar, and the other common to Madagascar and Africa. America has 11 genera, all quite distinct from those of the Eastern Hemisphere, and only three enter the Nearctic region, one species extending to Canada. Remembering our conclusions as to the early history of the several regions, these facts enable us to indicate, with consider- able probability, the origin and mode of dispersal of the cuckoos. They were almost certainly developed in the Oriental and Pale- arctic regions, but reached the Neotropical at a very early date, where they have since been completely isolated. Africa must have long remained without cuckoos, the earliest immigration CHAP. XVILI.] BIRDS. 309 being to Madagascar at the time of the approximation of that sub-region to Ceylon and Malaya. A later infusion of Oriental forms took place probably by way of Arabia and Persia, when those countries were more fertile and perhaps more ex- tensive. Australia has also received its cuckoos at a somewhat late date, a few having reached the Austro-Malay Islands some- what earlier. The classification of the family is somewhat unsettled. For the American genera I follow Messrs. Sclater and Salvin; and, for those of the Old World, Mr. Sharpe’s suggestive paper in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 1873, p. 600. The following is the distribution of the various genera:— ~~ (71%) Pheenicophies (1 sp.), Ceylon; (72%) Rhamphococcyx (1 ap.), Celebes; (4%) Rhenococeym (1 sp.), Java; CO 2%) Rhopodytes (6 sp.), Himalayas to Ceylon, Hainan, and Malaya; (2203) Poliococcyx (L sp.), Malacea, Sumatra, and Borneo; (?1°”) Dasylophus (1 sp.), Philippine Islands; (°°) Lepidogrammus (1 sp.), Philippine Islands; (°°) Zanclostomus (1 sp.), Malaya; (2) Ceuthmochares (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa and Madagascar ; (2?) Zaccocua (4 sp.), Himalayas to Ceylon and Malacca; (2%) Rhinortha (1 sp.), Malacca, Sumatra, Borneo ; (2199) Carpococcyx (1 sp.), Borneo and Sumatra; (7°) Meomorphus (4 sp.), Brazil to Mexico; (72% °°) Cowa (10 sp.), Madagascar ; (2°) Cochlothraustes (1 sp.), Madagascar; (74) Centropus (35 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, the whole Oriental region, Austro-Malaya and Australia; (!°) Crotophaga (3 sp.), Brazil to Antilles and Pennsylvania; (7°) Guira (1 sp.), Brazil and Paraguay ; (7°) Geococcyx (2 sp.), Guatemala to Texas and Cali- fornia; (22!) Dromococcyx (2 sp.), Brazil to Mexico; (?!°) Diplopterus (1 sp.), Mexico to Ecuador and Brazil; (8) Saurothera (4 sp.), Greater Antilles ; 2") Hyetornis (2 sp.), Jamaica and Hayti; (215) Piaya (3 sp.), Mexico to West Ecuador and Brazil; (°*"*) Morococcyx (1 sp.), Costa Rica to Mexico; (74) Coccygus (10 sp.), La Plata to Antilles, Mexico and Pennsylvania, Cocos Island ; (27) Cuculus (22 sp.), Palearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions, to Moluccas and Australia; (?) Caliecthrus (1 sp.), Papuan Islands; (22°°-2282) Caeomantis (15 sp.), Oriental and Australian 310 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. (PART Iv. regions to Fiji Islands and Tasmania; ("8-8") Chrysococeyx (16 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, the Oriental and Australian regions to New Zealand and Fiji Islands ; (7°58) Swrniculus (2 sp.), India, Ceylon, and Malaya ; (°°) Hicrococcyx (7 sp.), the Oriental recion to Amoorland and Celebes; (°° 7°41) Coceystes (6 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, the Oriental region, excluding Philip- pines; (?") Hudynamis (8 sp.), the Oriental and Australian regions, excluding Sandwich Islands; (#) Seythrops (1 sp.), East Australia to Moluceas and North Celebes. Famity 59.—LEPTOSOMIDZ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NrorTrRoPIcaL Nearctic | PAL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. } ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL | AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. ~---.|----|----|---4 |----|---- | The Leplosomus discolor, which constitutes this family, is a bird of very abnormal characters, having some affinities both with Cuckoos and Rollers. It is confined to Madagascar (Plate Vie Vol I. p.278): Famity 60—BUCCONID%. (5 Genera, 43 Species.) GENERAL DIsTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC | PAL#ARCTIC ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, SUB-REGIONS. | | AUSTRALIAN 5 UB-REGIONS, The Bucconide, or Puff-birds, are generally of small size and dull colours, with rather thick bodies and dense plumage. They form one of the characteristic Neotropical families, being most abundant in the great Equatorial forest plains, but extending as far north as Guatemala, though absent from the West Indian Islands. The genera are :—Bucco (21 sp.), Guatemala to Paraguay, and West of the Andes in Ecuador; Malacoptila (10 sp.), Guatemala CHAP, XVILIL.] BIRDS. Sil to Bolivia and Brazil; Nonnula (3 sp.), Amazon and Columbia; Monasa (7 sp.), Costa Rica to Brazil; Chelidoptera (2 sp.), Colum- bia and Guiana to Brazil. Famity 61—GALBULID. (6 Genera, 19 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL {| AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALEARCTIC SUB-KEGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. —a.s—|---- a = eee ple The Galbulide, or Jacamars, are small slender birds, of gener- ally metallic plumage; somewhat resembling in form the Bee- eaters of the Old World but less active. They have the same general distribution as the last family, but they do not occur west of the Equatorial Andes. The genera are :— Galbula (9 sp.), Guatemala to Brazil and Bolivia; Urogalba (2 ep.), Guiana and the lower Ainazon; Brachygalba (4 sp.), Venezuela to Brazil and Bolivia; Jacamaralcyon (1 sp.), Brazil ; Jacamerops (2 sp.), Panama to the Amazon; Galbaleyrhynchus (1 sp.), Upper Amazon. FamILy 62.—CORACIID. (5 Genera, 19 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. —_— CO NEOTROPICAL | NEARCTIC PALMARCTIC | ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REG ONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-KEGIONS,. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. © SUB-REGIONS. | See Se eae i, 2 S40 1.2.4.4 101. 2 The Rollers are a family of insectivorous birds allied to the Bee-eaters, and are very characteris‘ic of the Ethiopian and Oriental regions; but one species (Coracias garrula) spreads over the Palearctic region as far north as Sweden and the Altai mountains, while the genus Hurystomus reaches the Amoor valley, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. The distribution of the genera is as follows :— Coracias (8 sp.), the whole Ethiopian region, the Oriental 312 . GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART Iv. region except Indo-Malaya, the Palearctic to the above- named limits, and the island of Celebes on the confines of the Australian region; Hwrystomus (8 sp.), West and East Africa and Madagascar, the whole Oriental region except the Peninsula of India, and the Australian as far as Australia and the Solomon Islands; rachypteracias (possibly allied to Leptosomus ?) (4 sp.), Madagascar only, but these abnormal birds form a distinct sub-family, and according to Mr. Sharpe, three genera, Brachypteracias, Atelornis, and Geobtiastes. A most remarkable feature in the distribution of this family is the occurrence of a true roller (Coractas temminckiv) in the island of Celebes, entirely cut off from the rest of the genus, which does not occur again till we reach Siam and Burmah. The curious Pseudochelidon from West Africa may perhaps belong to this family or to the Cypselide. (Ibis. 1861, p. 321.) Famity 63—MEROPIDZ. (5 Genera, 34 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL Sub-rearons. | SUB-REGIONS. a5 AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ae | aye [1.2-— 1.2.3.4 1.2.9.4 | 120 The Meropide, or Bee-eaters, have nearly the same distribution as the Rollers, but they do not penetrate quite so far either into the Eastern Palearctic or the Australian regions. The distribu- tion of the genera is as follows :— Merops (21 sp.), has the range of the family extending on the north to South Scandinavia, and east to Austraha and New Guinea; Nyctiornis (3 sp.), the Oriental region, except Ceylon and Java; Meropogon (1 sp.), Celebes ; Aleropiscus (3 sp.), West Africa; Melittophaqus (6 sp.), Ethiopian region, except Madagascar. CHAP. XVII. ] BIRDS. 313 Famity 64.—TODIDA®. (1 Genus, 5 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL A@STRALIAN SUR-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. OntENTAL SUB-REGIONS. Px | eae > eee ess | at The Todies are delicate, bright-coloured, insectivorous birds, of small size, and allied to the Motmots, although externally more resembling flycatchers. They are wholly confined to the greater Antilles, the islands of Cuba, Hayti, Jamaica, and Porto Rico having each a peculiar species of Zodus, while another species, said to be from Jamaica, has been recently described (Plate XVI. Vol. II. p. 67). Famity 65.—MOMOTID®. (6 Genera, 17 Species.) — GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. -a.a— |---~ |-~~-|---- | ---- | ---- | | The Motmots range from Mexico to Paraguay and to the west coast of Ecuador, but seem to have their head-quarters in Cen- tral America, five of the genera and eleven species occurring from Panama northwards, two of the genera not occurring in South America. The genera are as follows :— Momotus (10 sp.), Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia, one species extending to Tobago, and one to Western Ecuador; Urospatha (1 sp.), Costa Rica to the Amazon ; Baryphthengus (1 sp.), Brazil and Paraguay ; Hylomanes (2 sp.), Guatemala; Prionirhynchus (2 sp.), Guatemala to Upper Amazon; Humomota (1 sp.), Hon- duras to Chiriqui. 314 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART lv. Famity 66.--TROGONIDA. (7 Genera, 44 Species.) GENERAL DIsTRIBU'TION. Se ee ee NeotropicaL | Nearcric§ | PaLzaRcTIc SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. ee ETHIOPIAN {| ORIENTAL | AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS, | -2.3.4| As ye ae ope emda IP lyre = (1.2.8.4 aS | | The Trogons form a well-marked family of insectivorous forest-haunting birds, whose dense yet puffy plumage exhibits the most exquisite tints of pink, crimson, orange, brown, or metallic green, often relieved by delicate bands of pure white. In one Guatemalan species the tail coverts are enormously lenethened into waving plumes of rich metallic green, as grace- ful and marvellous as those of the Paradise-birds. Trogons are tolerably abundant in the Neotropical and Oriental regions, and are represented in Africa by a single species of ‘a peculiar genus. The genera now generally admitted are the following :— Trogon (24 sp.), Paraguay to Mexico, and west of the Andes in Ecuador; Zemnotrogon (1 sp.), Hayti; Prionoteles (1 sp.), Cuba (Plate XVII. Vol. IL. p. 67); Apaloderma (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; Harpactes (10 sp.), the Oriental region, exclud- ing China; Pharomacrus (5 sp.), Amazonia to Guatemala ; Euptilotis (1 sp.), Mexico. remains of Zrogon have been found in the Miocene deposits of France; and we are thus able to understand the existing distribution of the family. At that exceptionally mild period in the northern hemisphere, these birds may have ranged over all Europe and North America; but, as the climate became more severe they gradually became restricted to the tropical regions, where alone a sufficiency of fruit and insect-food is found all the year round, CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 315 FamIty 67—-ALCEDINID.©. (19 Genera, 125 Species.) GENERAL DIsrriBuTion. NFOTROPICAL Nearctric | Panuwearctic | ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL | AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, | } Ree See |) TSS. 4 1S. S44) 1S. Ou 4 1 5S 2428S. \ \ ' | The, Kingfishers are distributed universally, but very un- equally, over the globe, and in this respect present some of the most curious anomalies to be found among birds. They have their metropolis in the eastern half of the Malay Archipelago (our first Australian sub-region), from Celebes to New Guinea, in which district no less than 13 out of the 19 genera occur, 8 of them being peculiar ; and itis probable that in no other equally varied group of universal distribution, is so large a proportion of the generic forms confined to so limited a district. From this centre kingfishers decrease rapidly in every direction. In Australia itself there are only 4 genera with 13 species ; the whole Oriental region has only 6 genera, 1 being peculiar; the Ethiopian also 6 genera, but 3 peculiar; and each of these have less than half the number of species possessed by the Australian region. The Palearctic region possesses only 3 genera, all derived from the Oriental region; but the most extraordinary deficiency is shown by the usually rich Neotropical region, which possesses but a single genus, common to the larger part of the Eastern Hemi- sphere, and the same genus is alone found in the Nearctic region, the only difference being that the former possesses eight, while the latter has but a single species. These facts almost inevitably lead to the conclusion that America long existed without king- fishers; and that in comparatively recent times (perhaps during the Miocene or Pliocene period), a species of the Old World genus, Ceryle, found its way into North America, and spreading rapidly southward along the great river-valleys has become differentiated in South America into the few closely allied forms that alone inhabit that vast country—the richest in the world in 316 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. fresh-water fish, and apparently the best fitted to sustain a varied and numerous body of kingfishers. The names of the genera, with their distribution and the number of species in each, as given by Mr. Sharpe in his ex- cellent monograph of the family, is as follows :— Alcecdo (9 sp.), Palearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions (but absent from Madagascar), and extending into the Austro-Malayan sub-region ; Corythornis (3 sp.), the whole Ethiopian region ; Alcyone (7 sp.), Australia and the Austro-Malayan sub-region, with one species in the Philippine Islands ; Ceryle (13 sp.), absent only from Australia, the northern half of the Palarctic region, and Madagascar ; Pelargopsis (9 sp.), the whole Oriental region, and extending to Celebes and Timor in the Austro-Malayan sub- region ; Ceyx (11 sp.),the Oriental region and Austro-Malayan sub- region, but absent from Celebes,and only one species in continental India and Ceylon; Ceycopsis (1 sp.), Celebes; Myzoceyx (2 sp.), West Africa; Ipsidina (4 sp.), Ethiopian region; Syma (2 sp.), Papua and North Australia; Halcyon (36 sp.), Australian, Oriental, and Ethiopian regions, and the southern part of the Palearctic ; Dacelo (6 sp.), Australia and New Guinea; Todir- hamphus (3 sp.), Eastern Pacific Islands only; Monachaleyon (1 sp.), Celebes; Caridonax (1 sp.), Lombok and Flores; Carcineutes (2 sp.), Siam to Borneo and Java; Tanysiptera (14 sp.), Moluccas New Guinea, and North Australia (Plate X. Vol. I. p. 414); Cittura (2 sp.), Celebes group ; JZelidora (1 sp.), New Guinea. FamIty 68.—BUCEROTIDL®. (12 Genera, 50 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEARCTIC PALHARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL SuB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. say eRe | ---- | es (1.2.3- 1.2.3.4) pee ae The Hornbills form an isolated group of generally large-sized birds, whose huge bills form their most prominent feature. They are popularly associated with the American Toucans, but have no close relationship to them, and are now generally CHAP. XV111. | BIRDS. 317 considered to show most resemblance, though still a very distant one, to the kinefishers. They are abundant in the Ethiopian and Oriental regions, and extend eastward to the Solomon Islands. Their classification is very unsettled, for though they have been divided into more than twenty genera they have not yet been carefully studied. The following grouping of the genera—referring to the numbers in the Hand List—must therefore be considered as only provisional :— (1967 1958 1963) Buceros (6 sp.), all Indo-Malaya, Arakan, Nepal and the Neilgherries (Plate IX. Vol. I. p. 339); (2% — 1°) Hydrocissa (7 sp.), India and Ceylon to Malaya and Celebes ; (1962) Berenicornis (2 sp.), Sumatra and West Africa; (1) Calao (3 sp.), Tennaserim, Malaya, Moluccas to the Solomon Islands; (29%) Aceros (1 sp.), South-east Himalayas ; (1° 19°) Cranorrhinus (3 sp.), Malacca, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines, Celebes ; (2%) Penelopides (1 sp.), Celebes; (1% — 1%) Tockus (15 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (7%) Rhinoplax (1 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; (#° — 1%) Bycanistes (6 sp.), West Africa with East and South Africa ; (°° !") Aeniceros (3 sp.), India and Ceylon to Tenasserim; (18) Bucorvus (2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, Famity 69.—UPUPID. (1 Genus, 6 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NFOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALAARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGLONS, | = | ge a 1.2.3.4 1.2.3 —_ ae The Hoopoes form a small and isolated group of semi-terres- trial insectivorous birds, whose nearest affinities are with the Hornbills. They are most characteristic of the Ethiopian re- gion, but extend into the South of Europe and into all the continental divisions of the Oriental region, as well as to Ceylon, and northwards to Pekin and Mongolia. 318 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART Iv. Famity 70.—IRRISORIDA. (1 Genus, 12 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ————_/ NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALARCTIC | ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL | AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. | —---|---- |---- ee ea eee | | The Irrisors are birds of generally metallic plumage, which have often been placed with the Epunachide and near the Sun- birds, or Birds of Paradise, but which are undoubtedly allied to the Hoopoes. They are strictly confined to the continent of Africa, ranging from Abyssinia to the west coast, and southward to the Cape Colony. They have been divided into several sub- genera which it is not necessary here to notice (Plate LV. Vol. L p. 261). Famity 71—PODARGID. (3 Genera, 20 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. PAL-ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NFOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS, | SUB-REGIONS. ep ee pee seen | eee | ---— |2-2.8.4| a | ( The Podargid, or Frog-mouths, are a family of rather large- sized nocturnal insectivorous birds, closely allied to the Goat- suckers, but distinguished by their generally thicker bills, and especially by bunting for their food on trees or on the ground, instead of seizing it on the wing. They abound most in the Austra- lian region, but one genus extends over a large part of the Oriental region. The following are the genera with their distribution :— Podargus (10 sp.), Australia, Tasmania, and the Papuan Islands (Plate XII. Vol. I. p. 441); Batrachostomus (6 sp.), the Oriental region (excluding Philippine Islands and China) and the northern Moluceas ; dgotheles (4 sp.), Australia, Tasmania, and Papuan Islands. CHAP, XVIII. ] BIRDS. 319 FamILy 72.—STEATORNITHID. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. ETHioPiiNn SUB-REGIONS. NeEotTropicat | NEARCTIC PaLZ#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. ae | ee Se ene Ranh lee, This family contains a single bird—the Guacharo—forming the genus Steatornis, first discovered by Humboldt in a cavern in Venezuela, and since found in deep ravines near Bogota, and also in Trinidad. Although apparently alhed to the Goat-suckers it is a vegetable-feeder, and is altogether a very anomalous bird whose position in the system is still undetermined. Famity 73—CAPRIMULGID®. (17 Genera, 91 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. Jae NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL Nearctic | PaLa#arctic | ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS, SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3.4 1.2.3.4, 1.2.3.4 | 1.2.3.4 | 1.2—— | The Goat-suckers, or Night-jars, are crepuscular insectivorous birds, which take their prey on the wing, and are remarkable for their soft and beautifully mottled plumage, swift and silent flight, and strange cries often imitating the human voice. They are universally distributed, except that they do not reach New Zealand or the remoter Pacific Islands. The South American genus, Vyctibius, differs in structure and habits from the other goat-suckers and should perhaps form a distinct family. More than half the genera inhabit the Neotropical region. The genera are as follows :-— Nyctibius (6 sp.), Brazil to Guatemala, Jamaica; Capri- mulgus (35 sp.), Palearctic, Oriental, and Ethiopian regions, with the Austro-Malay Islands and North Australia; Hydropsalis (8 sp.), Tropical South America to La Plata ; Antrostomus (10 320 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [Parr Iv. sp.), La Plata and Bolivia to Canada, Cuba; Stenopsis (+ sp.), Martinique to Columbia, West Peru and Chili ; Siphonorhis (1 sp.), Jamaica; Heleothreptus (1 sp.), Demerara; Nyctidronvus (2 sp.), South Brazil to Central America; Scortornis (3 sp.), West and East Africa; Macrodipteryx (2 sp.), West and Central Africa; Cosmetornis (1 sp.), all Tropical Africa ; Podager (1 sp.), Tropical South America to La Plata; ZLuwrocalis (2 sp.), Brazil and Guiana; Chordeiles (8 sp.), Brazil and West Peru to Canada, Porto Rico, Jamaica; Nyctiprogne (1 sp.), Brazil and Amazonia ; Eurostopodus (2 sp.), Australia and Papuan Islands; Lyncornis (4 sp.), Burmah, Philippines, Borneo, Celebes. . Famity 74—CYPSELID. (7 Genera, 53 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. PaL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.3.4) 1.2.9.4/1.2.9.4/1.2.9.4 11.2.3.4 | i203) | The Swifts can almost claim to be a cosmopolitan group, but for their absence from New Zealand. They are most abundant both in genera and species in the Neotropical and Oriental regions. The following is the distribution of the genera :— Cypselus (1 sp.), absent only from the whole of North America and the Pacific; Panyptila (5 sp.), Guatemala and Guiana, and extending into North-west America; Collocalia (10 sp.), Mada- eascar, the whole Oriental region and eastward through New Guinea to the Marquesas Islands; Dendrochelidon (5 sp.), Oriental region and eastward to New Guinea; Cheture (15 sp.), Continental America (excluding South Temperate), West Africa and Madagascar, the Oriental region, North China and the Amoor, Celebes, Australia; Hemiprocne (3 sp.), Mexico to La Plata, Jamaica and Hayti; Cypseloides (2 sp.), Brazil and Peru ; Nephecetes (2 sp.), Cuba, Jamaica, North-west America. CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 321 Famity 75.—TROCHILID. (118 Genera, 390 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.3.41/1.9.3.4 as | et Ese | ee | Seales The wonderfully varied and beautiful Humming-Birds are confined to the American continent, where they range from Sitka to Cape Horn, while the island of Juan Fernandez has two peculiar species. Only 6 species, belonging to 3 genera, are found in the Nearctic region, and most of these have extended their range from the south. They are excessively abundant in the forest-clad Andes from Mexico to Chili, some species extend- ing up to the limits of perpetual snow; but they diminish in number and variety in the plains, however luxuriant the vege- tation. In place of giving here the names and distribution of the numerous genera into which they are now divided (which wil be found in the tables of the genera of the Neotropical region), is may be more useful to present a summary of their distribution in the sub-divisions of the American continent, as follows :— Sub- Sub- Sub. Sub- Nearctic regionI, region II. region III. region IV. region. (Patagonia (Tropical (Tropical (Antilles.) (Temp. & S. Andes.) 8. Amer.) (N. Amer.) N. Amer.) Genera in each Sub-region 10 90 41 8 3 Peculiar Genera... ... 3 58 14 5 0 Species in each Sub-region 15 275 100 15 6 The island of Juan Fernandez has two species, and Masafuera, an island beyond it, one; the three forming a peculiar genus. The island of Tres Marias, about 60 miles from the west coast of Mexico, possesses a peculiar species of humming-bird, and the Bahamas two species; but none inhabit either the Falkland Islands or the Galapagos. Like most groups which are very rich in species and in generic forms, the humming-birds are generally very local, small VOL. II. x 322 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART Iv. generic groups being confined to limited districts; while single mountains, valleys, or small islands, often possess species found nowhere else. It is now well ascertained that the Trochilidee are really insectivorous birds, although they also feed largely, but probably never exclusively, on the nectar of flowers. Their nearest allies are undoubtedly the Swifts; but the wide gap that now separates them from these, as well as the wonderful variety of form and of development of plumage, that is found among them, alike point to their origin, at a very remote period, in the forests of the once insular Andes. There is perhaps no more striking contrast of the hke nature, to be found, than that between the American kingfishers—confined to a few closely allied forms of one Old World genus—and the American hum- ming-birds with more than a hundred diversified generic forms unlike everything else upon the globe; and we can hardly imagine any other cause for this difference, than a (compara- tively) very recent introduction in the one case, and a very high antiquity in the other. General Remarks on the Distribution of the Picarie. The very heterogeneous mass of birds forming the Order Picariz, contains 25 families, 307 genera and 1,604 species. This gives about 64 species to each family, while in the Passeres the proportion is nearly double, or 111 species per family. There are, in fact, only two very large families in the Order, which happen to be the first and last in the series—Picide and Trochilide. Two others—Cuculidee and Aleedinidee—are rather large; while the rest are all small, seven of them consisting only of a single genus and from one to a dozen species. Only one of the families—Alcedinidee—is absolutely cosmopolitan, but three others are nearly so, Caprimulgidee and Cypselide being only absent from New Zealand, and Cuculide from the Canadian sub-region of North America. Eleven families inhabit the Old World only, while seven are confined to the New World, only one of these—Trochilidee—being common to the Neotropical and Nearctie regions. The Picariz are highly characteristic of tropical faunas, for CHAP, XVIII] BIRDS. 323 while no less than 15 out of the 25 families are exclusively tropical, none are confined to, or have their chief development in, the temperate regions. They are best represented in the Ethiopian region, which possesses 17 families, 4 of which are peculiar to it; while the Oriental region has only 14 families, none of which are peculiar. The Neotropical region has also 14 families, but 6 of them are peculiar. The Australian region has 8, the Palearctic 9 and the Nearctic 6 families, but none of these are peculiar. We may see a reason for the great specialization of this tropical assemblage of birds in the Ethio- pian and Neotropical regions, in the fact of the large extent of Jand on both sides of the Equator which these two regions alone possess, and their extreme isolation either by sea or deserts from other regions,—an isolation which we know was in both cases much greater in early Tertiary times. It is, perhaps, for a similar reason that we here find hardly any trace of the connection between Australia and South America which other groups exhibit; for that connection has most probably been effected by a former communication between the temperate southern extremities of those two continents. The most interesting and suggestive fact, is that presented by the dis- tribution of the Megalemidz and Trogonide over the tropics of America, Africa, and Asia. In the absence of paleonto- logical evidence as to the former history of the Megalemide, we are unable to say positively, whether it owes its present distribution to a former closer union between these continents in intertropical latitudes, or to a much greater northern range of the group at the period when a luxuriant sub-tropical vege- tation extended far toward the Arctic regions; but the dis- covery of Zvogon in the Miocene deposits of the South of France renders it almost certain that the latter is the true explanation in the case of both these families. The Neotropical region, owing to its enormous family of humming-birds, is by far the richest in Picarie, possessing nearly half the total number of species, and a still larger pro- portion of genera. Three families, the Bucerotide, Meropide and Coraciide are equally characteristic of the Oriental and pa 324 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART Iv. Ethiopian regions, a few outlying species only entering the Australian or the Palearctic regions. One family (Todide) is confined to the West Indian Islands ; and another (Leptosomide) consisting of but a single species, to Madagascar; parallel cases to the Drepanididze among the Passeres, peculiar to the Sand- wich Islands, and the Apterygide among the Struthiones, peculiar to New Zealand. Order III.—PSITTACT. The Parrots have been the subject of much difference of opinion among ornithologists, and no satisfactory arrangement of the order into families and genera has yet been reached. Professor Garrod has lately examined certain points in the anatomy of a large number of genera, and proposes to revolu- tionize the ordinary classifications. Until, however, a general examination of their whole anatomy, internal and external, has been made by some competent authority, it will be unsafe to adopt the new system, as we have as yet no guide to the com- parative value of the characters made use of. I therefore keep as much as possible to the old groups, founded on external characters, only using the indications furnished by Professor Garrod’s paper, to determine the position of doubtful genera. Famity 76.—CACATUIDA (5 Genera, 35 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ole Gale The Cacatuide, Plyetolophide, or Camptolophide, as they have been variously termed, comprise all those crested parrots usually termed Cockatoos, together with one or two doubtful forms. They are very abundant in the Austrahan region, more espe- cially in the Austro-Malayan portion of it, one species inhabiting CHAP. XVIII. ] BIRDS. 325 the Philippine Islands; but they do not pass further east than the Solomon Islands and are not found in New Zealand. The distribution of the genera is as follow :— Cacatua (18 sp.) ranges from the Philippine Islands, Celebes and Lombok, to the Solomon Islands and to Tasmania; Calopsitta (1 sp.) Australia; Calyptorhynchus (8 sp.) is confined to Australia and Tasmania ; MJicroglossus (2 sp.) (perhaps a distinct family) to the Papuan district and North Australia; Licmetis (3 sp.) Australia, Solomon Islands, and (?) New Guinea; Nasiterna 3 sp.), &@ minute form, the smallest of the whole order, and perhaps not belonging to this family, is only known from the - Papuan and Solomon Islands. Famity 77.—PLATYCERCID. (11 Genera, 57 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. |- Js, | | - =| 1.2.8.4 a | aes TO The Platycercidee comprise a series of large-tailed Parrots, of weak structure and gorgeous colours, with a few ground-feed- ing genera of more sober protective tints; the whole family being confined to the Australian region. The genera are :— (1996 1999 2000) Platycercus (14 sp.), Australia, Tasmania, and Nor- folk Island; Psephotus (6 sp.), Australia; Polytelis (3° sp.), Australia; Nymphicus (1 sp.), Australia and New Caledonia; (2002 2003) Aprosmictus (6 sp.), Australia, Papua, Timor, and Mo- luccas; Pyrrhulopsis (3 sp.), Tonga and Fiji Islands; Cyano- ramphus (14 sp.), New Zealand, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, and Society Islands; Melopsittacus (1 sp.), Australia; Luphema (7 sp.), Australia; Pezoporus (1 sp.), Australia and Tasmania ; Geopsittacus (1 sp.), West Australia. The four last genera are ground-feeders, and are believed by Professor Garrod to be allied to the Owl-Parrot of New Zealand (Stringops). 326 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. Famity 78.—PALAORNITHIDA. (8 Genera, 65 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ~ ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, PaL#ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. = NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ee Be | 1.2.3.4/ 1.2—— I class here a group of birds brought together, for the most part, by geographical distribution as well as by agreement in in- ternal structure, but which is nevertheless of a very uncertain and provisional character. Palewornis (18 sp.), the Oriental region, Mauritius, Rodriguez, and Seychelle Islands, and a species in Tropical Africa, apparently identical with the Indian P. torquatus, and therefore— considering the very ancient intercourse between the two countries, and the improbability of the species remaining unchanged if originating by natural causes—most likely the progeny of domestic birds in- troduced from India. Prioniturus (3 sp.), Celebes and the Philippine Islands ; (7°) Geoffroyus (5 sp.), Bouru to Timor and the Solomon Islands ; Zanygnathus (5 sp.), Philippines, Celebes, and Moluccas to New Guinea; Zelectus (8 sp.), Moluccas and Papuan Islands ; Psittinus (1 sp.), Tenasserim to Sumatra and Borneo ; Cyclopsitta (8 sp.), Papuan Islands, Philippines and North-east Australia; Zoriculus (17 sp.), ranges over the whole Oriental region to Flores, the Moluccas, and the Papuan island of Mysol; but most of the species are concentrated in the district including the Philippines, Celebes, Gilolo, and Flores, there being 1 in India, 1 in South China, 1 in Ceylon, 1 in Java, 1 in Malacca, Sumatra, and Borneo, 3 in Celebes, 5 in the Philip- pines, and the rest in the Moluccas, Mysol, and Flores. This genus forms a transition to the next family. CHAP, XVII. ] BIRDS. 397 FamiLy 79.—TRICHOGLOSSID. (6 Genera, 57 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NFOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PaL#ARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS, se | = -|----|----| 1.2.8- The Trichoglossidze, or Brush-tongued Paroquets, including the Lories, are exclusively confined to the Australian region, where they extend from Celebes to the Marquesas Islands, and south to Tasmania. The genus Nanodes (= Lathamus) has been shown by Professor Garrod to differ from TZrichoglossus in the position of the carotid arteries. I therefore make it a distinct genus but do not consider that it should be placed in another family. The genera here admitted are as follows :— Trichoglossus (29 sp.), ranges over the whole Austro-Malay and Australian sub-regions, and to the Society Islands; (7°) Nanodes (1 sp.), Australia and Tasmania; Charmosyna (1 sp.), New Guinea (Plate X. Vol. I. p. 414); Hos (9 sp.), Bouru and Sanguir Island north of Celebes, to the Solomon Islands, and in Puynipet Island to the north-east of New Ireland; (7°°° 2°) Lorius (13 sp.), Bouru and the Solomon Islands ; (°°! 2°49) Coriphilus (4 sp.), Samoa, Tonga, Society and Marquesas Islands. Famity 80.—CONURIDA. (7 Genera, 79 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ErHioPiin SUB-REGIONS. PAL#ARCTIC SUB-KEGIONS. NEARCT.C SUB-REG!ONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. 1.a.s.4|—-s—|----|----|----| ---- The Conuride, which consist of the Macaws and their allies, are wholly confined to America, ranging from the Straits of Magellan to South Carolina and Nebraska, with Cuba and Jamaica. Professor Garrod places Pyrrhura (which has generally 328 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. been classed as a part of the genus Conurus) in a separate family, on account of the absence of the ambiens muscle of the knee, but as we are quite ignorant of the classificational value of this character, it is better for the present to keep both as distinct genera of the same family. The genera are :— Ara (15 sp.), Paraguay to Mexico and Cuba; Rhyncopsitta (1 sp.), Mexico ; Henicognathus \1 sp.), Chili; Conwrus (30 sp.), the range of the family; Pyrrhura (16 sp.), Paraguay and Bolivia to Costa Rica; Bolborhynchus (7 sp.), La Plata, Bolivia and West Peru, with one species in Mexico and Guatemala; Brotogerys (9 sp.), Brazil to Mexico, Famity 81.—PSITTACID.—(12 Genera, 87 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL | AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS, PAL-ARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. —2.3.4 | = | eee j1.2.3.4 | Se | SS i) The Psittacidee comprise a somewhat heterogeneous assemblage of Parrots and Paroquets of the Neotropical and Ethiopian regions, which are combined here more for convenience than because they are believed to form a natural group. The genera Chirrysotis and Pronus have no oil-gland, while Psittacula and Agapornis have lost the furcula, but neither of these characters are pro- bably of more than generic value. The genera are :— Psittacus (2 sp.), West Africa; Coracopsis (5 sp.), Madagascar, Comoro, and Seychelle Islands; Paocephalus (9 sp.), all Tropical and South Africa ; (79 — 2966) Cazca (9 sp.), Mexico to Amazonia ; Chrysotis (32 sp.), Paraguay to Mexico and the West Indian Islands; Zriclaria (1 sp.), Brazil; Deroptyus (1 sp.), Amazonia ; Pionus (9 sp.), Paraguay to Mexico; Urochroma (7 sp.), Tro- pical South America; Psittacula (6 sp.), Brazil to Mexico; Poliopsitta (2 sp.), Madagascar and West Africa; Agapornis (4 sp.), Tropical and South Africa. CHAP. XVIII. J BIRDS. 329 Famity 82.—NESTORIDA (? 2 Genera, 6 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ~ AUSLRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALARCTIC SUB-KEGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ee — ee | — | —--|1--4 The present family is formed to receive the genus Nestor (5 sp.), confined to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Its affinities are doubtful, but it appears to have relations with the American Conuride and the Australian Trichoglosside. With it is placed the rare and remarkable Dasyptilus (1 sp.), of New Guinea, of which however very little is known. FamILy 83.—STRINGOPID. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. PALZARCTIC SuB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL ETHIOPIAN , ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS, SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS, ----|----|----|--~--|---~|---a | This family contains only the curious owl-like nocturnal Parrot of New Zealand, Stringops habroptilus (Plate XIII. Vol .I. p. 455). An allied species is said to inhabit the Chatham Tslands, if not now extinct. General Remarks on the Distribution of the Psittaci. Although the Parrots are now generally divided into several distinct families, yet they form so well marked and natural a group, and are so widely separated from all other birds, that we may best discuss their peculiarities of geographical distri- bution by treating them as a whole. By the preceding enumeration we find that there are about 386 species of known parrots, which are divided into 52 genera. They are pre- eminently a tropical group, for although a few species extend a considerable distance into the temperate zone, these are 330 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. marked exceptions to the rule which limits the parrot tribe to the tropical and sub-tropical regions, roughly defined as extend- ing about 30° on each side of the equator. In America a species of Conurus reaches the straits of Magellan on the south, while another inhabits the United States, and once extended to the great lakes, although now confined to the south-eastern districts, In Africa parrots do not reach the northern tropic, owing to the desert nature of the country ; and in the south they barely reach the Orange River. In India they extend to about 35° N. in the western Himalayas ; and in the Australian region, not only to New Zealand but to Macquarie Islands in 54° S., the farthest point from the equator reached by the group. But although found in all the tropical regions they are most unequally dis- tributed. Africa is poorest, possessing only 6 genera and 25 species; the Oriental region is also very poor, having but 6 genera and 29 species ; the Neotropical region is much richer, having 14 genera and 141 species; while the smallest in area and the least tropical in climate—the Australian region, pos- sesses 31 genera and 176 species, and it also possesses exclusively 5 of the families, Trichoglossidz, Platycercide, Cacatuide, Nestoride, and Stringopidee. The portion of the earth’s surface that contains the largest number of parrots in proportion to its area is, undoubtedly, the Austro-Malayan sub-region, including the islands from Celebes to the Solomon Islands. The area of these islands is probably not one-fifteenth of that of the four tropical regions, yet they contain from one-fifth to one-fourth of all the known parrots. In this area too are found many of the most remarkable forms,—all the crimson lories, the great black Cockatoos, the pigmy Wasiterna, the raquet-tailed Prioniturus, and the bareheaded Dasyptilus. The almost universal distribution of Parrots wherever the climate is sufficiently mild or uniform to furnish them with a perennial supply of food, no less than their varied details of organization, combined with a great uniformity of general type, —tell us, in unmistakable language, of a very remote antiquity. The only early record of extinct parrots is, however, in the Miocene of France, where remains apparently allied to the West CHAP, XVIII. ] BIRDS. 331 African Psittacus, have been found. But the origin of so wide- spread, isolated, and varied a group, must be far earlier than this, and not improbably dates back beyond the dawn of the Tertiary period. Some primeval forms may have entered the Australian region with the Marsupials, or not long after thein ; while perhaps at a somewhat later epoch they were introduced into South America. In these two regions they have greatly flourished, while in the two other tropical regions only a few types have been found, capable of maintaining themselves, among the higher forms of mammalia, and in competition with a more varied series of birds. This seems much more probable than the supposition that so highly organized a group should have originated in the Australian region, and subsequently become so widely spread over the globe. Order IV—COLUMBL. FamiLty 84.—COLUMBIDA. (44 Genera, 355 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTiC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.9.4 |1.2.3.4| 1.2.3.4] 1.2.9.4)1.2.9.4 1.2.9.4 The Columbide, or Pigeons and Doves, are almost universally distributed, but very unequally in the different regions. Being best adapted to live in warm or temperate climates, they dimin- ish rapidly northwards, reaching about 62° N. Latitude in North America, but considerably farther in Europe. Both the Nearc- tic and Palearctic regions are very poor in genera and species of pigeons, those of the former region being mostly allied to Neotropical, and those of the latter to Oriental and Ethiopian types. The Ethiopian region is, however, itself very poor, and several of its peculiar forms are confined to the Madagascar sub- region, The Neotropical region is very rich in peculiar genera, though but moderately so in number of species. The Oriental 332 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV, region closely approaches it in both respects; but the Austra- lian region is by far the richest, possessing nearly double the genera and species of any other region, and abounding in re- markable forms quite unlike those of any other part of the globe. The following table gives the number of genera and species in each region, and enables us readily to determine the comparative richness and isolation of each, as regards this extensive family :— Regions. No. of Genera. Peculiar Genera. No. of Species. Neotropical bch ais 3 9 75 Nearctic ac sles 5 1 7 Palearctic ser ae: 3 0 9 Ethiopian oe Br, 6 al 37 Oriental a sa 12 1 66 Australian sia ae 24 14 143 With the exception of Columba and Turtur, which have a wide range, Zreron, common to the Oriental and Ethiopian regions, and Carpophaga, to the Oriental and Australian, most of the genera of pigeons are either restricted to or very characteristic of a single region. The distribution of the genera here admitted is as follows :— Treron (37 sp.), the whole Oriental region, and eastward to Celebes, Amboyna and Flores, also the whole Ethiopian region to Madagascar; Ptilopus (52 sp.), the Australian region (exclud- ing New Zealand) and the Indo-Malay sub-region ; Alectrenus (4 sp.), Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands: Carpophaga (50 sp.), the whole Australian and Oriental regions, but much the most abundant in the former; (#) Janthenas (11 sp.), Japan, Andaman, Nicobar, and Philippine Islands, Timor and Gilolo to Samoa Islands; (°?/8) Leucemelena (1 sp.), Australia ; Lopholaimus (1 sp.), Australia; (7279 *** 2283) Alsecomus (2 sp.), Himalayas to Ceylon and Tenasserim; Columba (46 sp.), generally distributed over all the regions except the Australian, one species however in the Fiji Islands ; #ctepistes (1 sp.), east of North America with British Columbia; Zenardura (2 sp.), Veragua to Canada and British Columbia ; @na (1 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; Geopelia (6 sp.), Philippine Islands and Java to Australia; Macropygia (14 sp.), Nepal, Hainan, Nicobar, Java, CHAP, XVIII] BIRDS. 333 and Philippines to Australia and New Ireland; Zuracena (3 sp.), Celebes, Timor, and Solomon Islands; Retnwardtenas (1 sp.), Celebes to New Guinea; Turtur (24 sp.), Palearctic, Ethiopian and Oriental regions with Austro-Malaya; Cheme- pelia (7 sp.), Brazil and Bolivia to Jamaica, California, and South-east United States; Columbula (2 sp.), Brazil and La Plata to Chili; Scardafella (2 sp.), Brazil and Guatemala; Zenaida (10 sp.), Chili and La Plata to Columbia and the Antilles, Fernando Noronha ; MMelopelia (2 sp.), Chili to Mexico and California ; Peristera (4 sp.), Brazil to Mexico ; Metriopelia (2 sp.), West America from Ecuador to Chili; Gymnopelia (1 sp.), West Peru and Bolivia; Leptoptila (11 sp.), Paraguay to Mexico and the Antilles ; (7317 2818 *¢ 2320) G'eotrygon (14 sp.), Paraguay to Mexico and the Antilles; Aplopelia (5 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, St. Thomas and Princes Island; Chalocopelia (4 sp.), Tropical and South Africa ; Starnwnas (1 sp.), Cuba; Ocyphaps (1 sp.), Australia (Plate XII. Vol. I. p. 441); Petrophassa (1 sp.), North-west Australia; Chalocophaps (8 sp.), the Oriental region to New Guinea and Australia; Zrugon (1 sp.), New Guinea ; Henicophaps (1 sp.), Waigiou and New Guinea; Phaps (8 sp.), Australia and Tasmania; Leucosarcia (1 sp.), East Aus- tralia; Phapitreron (2 sp.), Philippine Islands ; Geophaps (2 sp.), North and East Australia; Lophophaps (3 sp.), Australia; Calenas (1 sp.), scattered on the smaller islands from the Nicobars and Philippines to New Guinea; Otidiphaps (1 sp.), New Guinea; Phlogenas (7 sp.), Philippine Islands and Celebes to the Marquesas Islands; Gowra (2 sp.), New Guinea and the islands on the north-east (Plate X. Vol. I. p 414). Famity 844—DIDUNCULID. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) GENERAL DIsTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS, ---- |----|---- | ----| ---- | --38- ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALARCTIC SUB-REGIONS, NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEroTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. 334 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV. ——_—___—_——_—_————_ — — eS The LDiduncwlus stigirostris, a hook-billed ground-pigeon, found only in the Samoa Islands, is so peculiar in its structure that it is considered to form a distinct family. Famity 85.—DIDID/.—(2 Genera, 3 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS. ETHIOPIAN SUB-REGIONS. PALZARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEARCTIC SUB-REGIONS. NEOTROPICAL SUB-REGIONS. The birds which constitute this family are now all extinct ; but as numerous drawings are in existence, taken from living birds some of which were exhibited in Europe, and a stuffed specimen, fragments of which still remain, was in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford down to 1755, they must be classed among recent, as opposed to geologically extinct species. The Dodo (Didus ‘ineptus) a large, unwieldy, flightless bird, inhabited Mauritius down to the latter part of the 17th century; and an allied form, the Solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria), was found only in the island of Rodriguez, where it survived about a century later. Old voyagers mention a Dodo also in Bourbon, and a rude figure of it exists; but no remains of this bird have been found. Almost complete skeletons of the Dodo and Solitaire have, however, been recovered from the swamps of Mauritius and the caves of Rodriguez, proving that they were both extremely modified forms of pigeon. These large birds were formerly very abundant, and being excellent eating and readily captured, the early voyagers to these islands used them largely for food. As they could be caught by man, and very easily by dogs, they were soon greatly diminished in numbers; and the introduction of swine, which ran wild in the forests and fed on the eggs and young birds, completed their extermination. The existence in the Mascarene Islands of a group of such remarkable terrestrial birds, with aborted wings, is parallel to that of the Apteryxz and Dinornis in New Zealand, the Casso- waries of Austro-Malaya, and the short-winged Rails of New CHAP. XVIII.] BIRDS. 335 Zealand, Tristan d’Acunha, and other oceanic islands; and the phenomenon is clearly dependent on the long-continued absence of enemies, which allowed of great increase of bulk and the total loss of the power of flight, without injury. In some few cases (the Ostrich for example) birds incapable of flight co-exist with large carnivorous mammalia ; but these birds are large and powerful, as well as very swift, and are thus able to escape from some enemies and defend themselves against others. The entire absence of the smaller and more defenceless ground-birds from the adjacent island of Madagascar, is quite in accordance with this view, because that island has several small but destructive carnivorous animals. General Remarks on the Distribution of the Columbe. The striking preponderance of Pigeons, both as to genera and species, in the Australian region, would seem to indicate that at some former period it possessed a more extensive land area in which this form of bird-life took its rise. But there are other considerations which throw doubt upon this view. The western half of the Malay Archipelago, belonging to the Oriental region, is also rich in pigeons, since it has 43 species belonging to 11 genera, rather more than are found in all the rest of the Oriental region. Again, we find that the Mascarene Islands and the An- tilles both possess more pigeons than we should expect, in pro- portion to those of the regions to which they belong, and to their total amount of bird-life. This looks as if islands were more favourable to pigeon-development than continents; and if we group together the Pacific and the Malayan Islands, the Mascarene group and the Antilles, we find that they contain to- gether about 170 species of pigeons belonging to 24 out of the 47 genera here adopted; while all the great continents united only produce about the same number of species belonging (if we omit those peculiar to Australia) te only 20 genera. The great deve- lopment of the group in the Australian region may, therefore, be due to its consisting mainly of islands, and not to the order having originated there, and thus having had a longer period in which to develop. I have elsewhere suggested (Zhis 1865, p. 366) 336 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART IV- a physical cause for this peculiarity of distribution. Pigeons build rude, open nests, and their young remain helpless for a considerable period. They are thus exposed to the attacks of such arboreal quadrupeds or other animals as feed on eggs or young birds. Monkeys are very destructive in this respect ; and it is a noteworthy fact that over the whole Australian re- gion, the Mascarene Islands and the Antilles, monkeys are un- known. In the Indo-Malay sub-region, where monkeys are generally plentiful, the greatest variety of pigeons occurs in the Philippines, where there is but a single species in one island ; and in Java, where monkeys are far less numerous than in Sumatra or Borneo. If we add to this consideration the fact, that mam- malia and rapacious birds are, as a rule, far less abundant in islands than on continents; and that the extreme development of pigeon-life is reached in the Papuan group of islands, in which mammalha (except a few marsupials, bats, and pigs) are wholly absent, we see further reason to adopt this view. It is also to be noted that in America, comparatively few pigeons are found in the rich forests (comparable to those of the Australian insular region in which they abound), but are mostly confined to the open campos, the high Andes, and the western coast districts, from which the monkey-tribe are wholly absent. This view is further supported by the great development of colour that is found in the pigeons of these insular regions, cul- minating in the golden-yellow fruit-dove of the Fiji Islands, the metallic green Nicobar-pigeon of Malaya, and the black and erimson .D.DL NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PAL#ZARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SuB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. | SUB-REGIONS. Sasa | ----| 1--~ |-2-4 | --9.4| 1--- This group has been separated from the Erycinide of the older authors, and contains all the non-American genera and species. Half the genera and nearly four-fifths of the species of this group are, however, Neotropical; one is European; two or three African; and twenty-six Oriental and Australian. The genera are :— Nemeobius (1 sp.), Europe; Dodona (6 sp.), North India ; Zemeros (2 sp.), North India and Malaya;