Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 3.djvu/773

Rh PAL.EAKCTIC EEGIOX.] B I E D S be limited by the Ural Mountains and the River of the same name. Next we should have the Sub-region to which we may most properly affix the name of &quot; Mediterranean,&quot; comprehending the portion of North Africa already indi cated, the Iberian and Italian peninsulas, as well as Turkey in Europe and the Peloponnesus, but we must extend it far to the eastv/avd through Asia Minor and Persia until it touches the Indian Region. The lofty range of the Caucasus would divide it from the European Subregion between the Black Sea and the Caspian; beyond the latter,- however, we cannot do more than guess that the desert of the Tekko Turcomans and the mountains of Cabool would form its northern boundary. Then stretching from the eastern shores of the Caspian in a wide belt, but how wide is a matter of the greatest uncertainty, comes the third Sub- region, which we may call the &quot; Mongolian &quot; marching with the Mediterranean Subregion till the Hindoo Koosh is reached, and thence coincident with the southern borders of the Region towards the Yellow Sea possibly following the course of the Yangstzekiang. To this Subregion also would belong the greater part if not the whole of Japan. Northward again we have the great &quot;Siberian&quot; Subregion, but materials for any attempt to shew whether its southern boundary is capable of being laid down are absolutely want ing. Even on the seaboard it is at present impossible to say whether it is in Manchuria that one Subregion passes into the other, or whether first the Stannovoi and further inland the Altai Mountains mark their respective limits. Having thus indicated the component parts of the whole area, it is time to say somewhat of its avifaunal characters. Like the Nearctic the Palaoarctic Region seems to produce but a single peculiar family cf Birds the Panuridce, the type of which is the beautiful species known to Englishmen as the Bearded Titmouse (Pamirus biarmicus) and this is a family which lias not been long or very generally recog nized. Its members, however, are found stationed at intervals from the western to the eastern extremity, and every attempt to refer them to other groups of Birds has proved unsatisfactory for the different genera (about the number of which there is much doubt) have often been widely scattered by systematists, one being placed at times with the Titmouse-family (Paridce), at times with the Buntings (EmberizidcK), another relegated to the Finches (Fringillidce], and a third or even more to the so-called &quot; Babblers &quot; (Timeliidce). The entire number of Palsearctic families, computing them as we have already done those of other Regions, is about 67, not counting 1 other (Nectar iniidce) of which a single species is peculiar to the valley of the Ghor, and that of the genera 323, about which there can be little doubt, or if any exist it may be that the number is understated. Of these as we have above men- &amp;gt;ns tioned 128 are common to the Nearctic Region. Species - r of 51 more seem to occur as true natives both in the Ethiopian and Indian Regions, of which 4 genera belong to Sylviidce, 1 each to Timeliidce, Ixidce, and Oriolidce, 2 tu Miiscicapidce, 1 to Laniidce, 2 to Motacillidce, 1 to Dicceidce, 2 to Fringillidce, 1 to Emberizidce, 3 to Alau didce, 1 to Cuculidce, 2 to Coraciidce, 1 to Meropidoe, Upupidce, Caprimulgidce, and Cypselidce respectively, 4 to Vulturidce, 6 to Falconidce, 1 to each of Strigidce, Golum- bidce, and Pterocleidce, 3 to Tetraonidce, 1 to Turnicidce, 2 to Otididae and Charadriidce, and 1 to each of Glare- olidce, Cursoriidce, Laridce, and Anatidce. Besides these 18 appear to be common to the Ethiopian without being found in the Indian Region, and no fewer than 71 to the Indian without being found in the Ethiopian. Of the former 1 is referable to Turdidce, 3 to Sylviidae, 1 to each of Timeliidce, Husdcapidce, Laniidce, and Motacillidce, 3 to Fringillidce, 1 to Emberizidce and Sturnidce respectively, 3 to Alaudidce, and 1 to each of Gruidce and Ciconiidce. Of the latter, 2 genera belong to Turdidce, 1 7 to /Sylviidce, 4 to Timeliidce, 1 to each of Troglodytidce and Certhiidce, 3 to Liotrichiclce, 1 to Paridce and Ixidce respectively, 4 tc MuscicapidcB, 1 to each of Motacillidce and Hirundinidce, 3 to Fringillidce, 4 to Sturnidce, 3 to Corvidce, 1 to Pittidce, 2 toPicidce, 1 ioJyngidce and Cucididce respectively, 2 to Alcedinidce, 1 to Vidturidce, 3 to Strigidce, 2 to each of Columbidce and Tetraonidce, 5 to Phasianidce, 1 to Otididce, 3 to Scolcspacidce, and 1 to Anatidce. To compare the Palsearctic genera with those of the Australian and Neotropical Regions would be simply a waste of time, for the points of resemblance are extremely few, and such as they are they lead to nothing. It will therefore be seen from the above that next to the Nearctic Region, the Palsearctic has a much greater affinity to the Indian than to any other, a fact which need not surprise us when we consider the great extent of their contact. Having shewn this much we have next to deal with the peculiarities of the Region under our view. At the lowest computation 37 genera seem to be peculiar to it, though it is certain that species of several are regularly wont to wander beyond its limits in winter seeking a southern climate there to avoid the distress they would suffer in that of their birth. Of these genera 3 are to be apportioned to the Warblers, Sylviidce ; probably 2 to the Babblers, Timeliidce ; at least 3 or perhaps 4 to the Panuridce ; 1 to each of Paridce and Ixidce ; 2 to the Flycatchers, Miiscicapidce ; 6 to the Finches, Fringillidce; 1 to the Buntings, Emberizidce, Starlings, Sturnidce, Crows, Cor- vidce, Woodpeckers, Picidce, and the Sand-Grouse, Ptero cleidce, respectively ; 2 to each of the Grouse, Tetraonidce, and Pheasants, Phasianidce; 1 to the Ducks, Anatidce, and Cranes, Gruidce, respectively ; 2 to the Plovers, Chara- driidce, and 5 x to the Snipes, Scolopacidce. The European Subregion does not seem to possess a European single genus which can be accounted absolutely peculiar to Hubregioi it, but it has two genera, each containing but one species Mergulus, one of the Alcidce, and Pagophila, belonging to the Laridce which do not appear to be elsewhere found in the Palsearctic Region though both inhabit the most northern parts of the Nearctic. Muscicapa as now restricted 2 almost fulfils the conditions of peculiarity, but one species has been said to breed, though in small numbers, in Palestine. The Mediterranean Subregion appears to have peculiar Mediter- to it 4 genera of Sylviidce, and 1 of Laridce ; but some 23 nenn more belong to it and to no other part of the Region, though having a wider range outside of the latter. Of these there are 8 common to both the Ethiopian and Indian Regions, namely, 1 of Vulturidce, 3 of Falconidce, and 1 of Tetraonidce, Anatidce, Glareolidce, and Cursoriidce respec tively. Confined to the same Subregion and the Ethiopian Region are 11, to wit, 1 of Turdidce, 1 of Sylviidce, 1 of Timeliidce, 1 of Laniidce, 2 of Fringillidce, 1 of Emlcri.idce, 1 of Sturnidce, 1 of Alaudidce, 1 of Vulturidce, and 1 of Charadriidce ; while having the like relation to the Indian Region are 2 1 belonging to Cuculidce and 1 to Otididce. Of the family last named another genus (Eupodotis), which only just makes its appearance in Morocco, ranges over Africa, India, and Australia; and a genus of Anatidce (Erismatura) is represented in America and Australia as well as in Africa. The Atlantic Islands, which must be regarded as outliers 1 One of these last has for a wonder received no name from system atists, but its generic separation seems on several grounds expedient. It is that which would have for its type the Tringa platyrhynclw, of Temminck. 2 That is excluding Butalis, Erythrosterna, and other kindred groui s, as well as the purely Ethiopian forms which have been by some systematists attached to Muscicapa proper.