Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 3.djvu/759

Rh AUSTRALIAN REGION.] BIRDS 741 egion. insulated continent which bears that name, with its ap pendage Tasmania or Van Diemen s Land, and possesses, on the whole, a very homogeneous fauna so much so, indeed, that at present it would be almost impossible to subdivide it into provinces. Influenced in the north by its proximity to the rich and varied Papuan Subregion, 1 its ornis rapidly becomes modified towards the south. Out of some G30 species or more, nearly 490 are Land-birds, and not more than one- twentieth of them are found elsewhere, so that its peculiar species bear a greater proportion to the rest than is the case in the Papuan Subregion. Though the western, and espe cially the north-western, parts of the country, which have been as yet but imperfectly investigated, will no doubt yield more results on further examination, it is already evident that the greatest animal wealth of Australia lies towards the east. The western portion seems to have but 2 peculiar genera (one of questionable value) a nocturnal Parrakeet (Geopsittacus), and a Weaver-bird (Emblema], which is apparently not very far removed from others of the same group. In the north, as already stated, there is a considerable admixture of genera from the Papuan Sub- region, which do not proceed beyond the tropic, and of these Casuarius is a striking example. The genus Xerophila, of uncertain affinity, is confined to South Australia ; and the extreme limits of the Subregion, that is Tasmania, possess in addition only 1 genus, Eudyptes, belonging to the marine family of the Penguins (Spheniscidcn), which inhabit gener ally the sub-antarctic seas; but the Land-birds, which are few in number, are specifically identical with those of Australia proper. This is even the case with the Emeu (Dromceus), and the import of this fact is as significant - as would be a corresponding example drawn from the class Mammalia, since, in regard to means of locomotion, birds incapable of flight are on a par with terrestrial mammals. As a whole, Australia is rich in Parrots (Psittaci), having several very peculiar forms ; but Picarians (Picarice) of all sorts certain Kingfishers (Alcedinidcc), perhaps, excepted are few in number, and the Pigeons (Columbidce) are also com paratively scarce. Australia, however, possesses two extra ordinary families of abnormal Passeres the Lyre-birds (Menuridce) and the Scrub-birds (Atrichiidce) which, so far as is at present known, stand by themselves, though it is possible that the latter have a somewhat distant ally in the genus Orthonyx, or even in the South- American family Pteroptochidae. The number of peculiar or characteristic genera of Passeres is, however, too great to be here enume rated ; and there are many singular forms of Columbidce. Among the more curious forms of Land-birds other than those may be especially remarked Lipoa among the Gallince (Megapodiidas), and Tribonyx among the Grallce (Rallidce}, while Pedionomus is a form referred by some systematists to the first and by others to the second of those Orders. The presence of a Bustard (Eupodotis) pre sents a curious example of interrupted distribution, since none of that family (Otididce) are found nearer than India, -nesian (3.) The Polynesian Subregion, though so vast, extend- region. i n g as it does from one tropic to the other throughout ninety degrees of longitude (from long. 140 E. to long. 130 W.), at that part of the earth s surface where degrees of longitude are broadest, possesses generally a very uniform avifauna. It may possibly be partitioned into four or five provinces ; but if so, the products of the first of them, 1 The Peninsula of Cape York possesses a Casuanus, as already noticed, and other grounds are not vanting for the supposition that has been entertained that zoologically it belongs to the Papuan Sub- region. a Its significance is increased by the fact that the Emeu of West Australia is distinct from that of the east. The Emeu is extinrt in Tasmania. containing the Palau 3 (commonly called Pelew), the Caro line, and most likely the Ladrone Islands, are at present too imperfectly known for any useful results to be drawn from them. Then we have the New Hebrides and New Caledonia forming another province : after which comes the third, or Central-Polynesian province, comprising the Fijian, Tongan, and Samoan groups ; next the numerous clusters from Cook s Islands to the Marquesas, including the Society Islands and the whole of the Low Archipelago, which may perhaps form a fourth province ; and lastly, the Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. The first of these pro vinces (so to call them) possesses in the Palau Islands a Eeed- Warbler, which seems to form a peuliar genus (Psama- thia), while another kindred form belongs to the widely- spread genus (Acrocqihalus) that our own English bird does, and occurs there, and there alone, so far as we know, throughout the whole Subregion. 4 The like may be said of a Goatsucker (Caprimulgus). 1 other typically Poly nesian genus is found ; 1 is common to the Papuan, and 1 to the Malayan (Indian) Subregion. The second pro vince shows some transition from the Papuan to the Australian Subregion. Out of 30 genera of Land-birds, 1 8 are typically Australian, 1 3 are also Polynesian : about 5 go no further to the eastward. 3 species of Aplonis, a genus of uncertain affinity, but generally classed with the Starlings (Sturnidce), seecn to link this province to the Central-Polynesian, and a very remarkable and apparently very generalized form of Grallce the Kagu (Rhinochetvx), which seems to have half-a-dozen scattered alliances is peculiar to New Caledonia. From the third province only some 50 genera and some 150 species of Land-birds are known. A species of Cuckow (Eudynamis taitensis) ranges over the whole of this as well as the next district so far as the Marquesas, as also does perhaps an abnormal Warbler (Tatare). On the other hand, the Samoan group has in the Manu-mea or Tooth-billed Pigeon (Didunculus) a form which alone makes a distinct family of Columboc; 5 and another island of the- same group, Savai, produces a mos peculiar brevipennate Water-hen (Pareudiastes), which it deemed worthy of generic separation from Gallinitlas The fourth province, which (if it may be recognized as such) may be called the Eastern- Polynesian, comprehends, as above stated, the countless islands which surround the Low Archipelago. Respecting these we have little precise information two meagre lists of birds from Hua- heine, one of the Society group, and a catalogue obviously not complete of those of tho Marquesas, appearing to furnish nearly all our available material. The latter group possesses a rather remarkable Pigeon, said to be peculiar to it, but perhaps also found in the former ; and though closely allied to Carpophaffa, it has been elevated to generic rank under the name of Serresius. The last province is that of the Sandwich Islands, which, notwithstanding that their ornithology has never been thoroughly worked out, seem to present some conspicuous differences from any other ; and it is almost a matter of opinion whether, small as is the known avifauna of the group, it should not be regarded as constituting a sepa rate Subregion rather than as a province of Polynesia. The ascertained Land-birds are but 18 in number. Of these 3 are Birds-of-prey, and 1 of them, the Pandion(f) solitarius of Cassin, is only known in collections by a unique specimen. The other 2 are widely-distributed 3 Dr Finsch is understood to be especially engaged on the birds of this group of islands, to our knowledge of which he and Dr Hartlaub have already contributed much. 4 It is, however, found in Australia and even in the south of that country. 5 It is possible, however, that Otidiphaps, which is supposed to come from New Guinea, may also belong to the Didunculidcr.
 * ralian (2.) The Australian Subregion is limited to the great