_Coleoptera._--These are very remarkable. In the family of Cicindelidæ, or

tiger-beetles, we have the extraordinary _Manticora_ and _Platychile_,

forming a sub-family, whose nearest allies are in North America; as well as

_Ophryodera_ and _Dromica_, the latter an extensive genus, which ranges as

far north as Mozambique {269}and Lake Ngami. Another genus of this family,

_Jansenia_, is common to South Africa and South India.

In the large family of Carabidæ, or ground-beetles, there are 17 peculiar

South African genera, the most important being _Crepidogaster_,

_Hytrichopus_, _Arsinoë_, and _Piezia_. Three others--_Eunostus_,

_Glyphodactyla_, and _Megalonychus_--are common to South Africa and

Madagascar only. There is also a genus in common with Java, and one with

Australia.

Of Lucanidæ, or stag-beetles, there are 3 peculiar genera; of Cetoniidæ, or

rose-chafers, 14; and of Buprestidæ, 2.

In the great family of Longicorns there are no less than 67 peculiar

genera--an immense number when we consider that the generally open

character of the country, is such as is not usually well suited to this

group of insects. They consist of 5 peculiar genera of Prionidæ, 25 of

Cerambycidæ, and 37 of Lamiidæ.

_Summary of South-African Zoology._--Summarizing these results, we find

that South Africa possesses 18 peculiar genera of Mammalia, 12 of Birds, 18

of Reptiles, 1 of Fishes, 7 of Butterflies, and 107 of the six typical

families of Coleoptera. Besides this large amount of speciality it contains

many other groups, which extend either to West Africa, to Abyssinia, or to

Madagascar only, a number of which are no doubt to be referred as

originating here. We also find many cases of direct affinity with the

Oriental region, and especially with the Malay districts, and others with

Australia; and there are also less marked indications of a relation to

America.

_Atlantic Islands of the Ethiopian Region._ _St. Helena._--The position of

St. Helena, about 1,000 miles west of Africa and 16° south of the equator,

renders it difficult to place it in either of the sub-regions; and its

scanty fauna has a general rather than any special resemblance to that of

Africa. The entire destruction of its luxuriant native forests by the

introduction of goats which killed all the young trees (a destruction which

was nearly completed two centuries ago) must have led to the extermination

of most of the indigenous birds and insects. At present there is no land

bird that is believed to be really indigenous, and but one {270}wader, a

small plover (_Ægialitis sanctæ-helenæ_) which is peculiar to the island,

but closely allied to African species. Numerous imported birds, such as

canaries, Java sparrows, some African finches, guinea-fowls, and

partridges, are now wild. There are no native butterflies, but a few

introduced species of almost world-wide range. The only important remnant

of the original fauna consists of beetles and land shells. The beetles are

the more numerous and have been critically examined and described by Mr. T.

V. Wollaston, whose researches in the other Atlantic islands are so well

known.

_Coleoptera of St. Helena._--Omitting those beetles which get introduced

everywhere through man's agency, there are 59 species of Coleoptera known

from St. Helena; and even of these there are a few widely distributed

species that may have been introduced by man. It will be well, therefore,

to confine ourselves almost wholly to the species peculiar to the island,

and, therefore, almost certainly forming part of the endemic or original

fauna. Of these we find that 10 belong to genera which have a very wide

range, and thus afford no indication of geographical affinity; 2 belong to

genera which are characteristic of the Palæarctic fauna (_Bembidium_,

_Longitarsus_); 3 to African genera (_Adoretus_, _Sciobius_,

_Aspidomorpha_); and two species of _Calosoma_ are most allied to African

species. There are also 4 African species, which may be indigenous in St.

Helena. The peculiar genera, 7 in number, are, however, the most

interesting. We have first _Haplothorax_, a large beetle allied to

_Carabus_ and _Calosoma_, though of a peculiar type. This may be held to

indicate a remote Palæarctic affinity. _Melissius_, one of the Dynastidæ,

is allied to South African forms. _Microxylobius_, one of the Cossonides (a

sub-family of Curculionidæ) is the most important genus, comprising as it

does 13 species. It is, according to Mr. Wollaston, an altogether peculiar

type, most allied to _Pentarthrum_, a genus found in St. Helena, Ascension,

and the south of England, and itself very isolated. _Nesiotes_, another

genus of Curculionidæ, belongs to a small group, the allied genera forming

which inhabit Europe, Madeira, and Australia. A third peculiar and isolated

genus is _Trachyphlæosoma_. The Anthribidæ are represented by {271}2

genera, _Notioxenus_ and _Homoeodera_, which are altogether peculiar and

isolated, and contain 9 species. Thus no less than 27 species, or more than

half of the undoubtedly indigenous beetles, belong to 5 peculiar and very

remarkable genera of Rhyncophora.

It appears from this enumeration, that the peculiar species as a whole,

exhibit most affinity to the Ethiopian fauna; next to the South European

fauna; and lastly to that of the islands of the North Atlantic; while there

is such a large amount of peculiarity in the most characteristic forms,

that no special geographical affinity can be pointed out.

_Land Shells._--These consist of about a dozen living species, and about as

many extinct found in the surface soil, and probably exterminated by the

destruction of the forests. The genera are _Succinea_, _Zonites_, _Helix_,

_Bulimus_, _Pupa_, and _Achatina_. The _Bulimi_ (all now extinct but one)

comprise one large, and several small species, of a peculiar type, most

resembling forms now inhabiting South America and the islands of the

Pacific. _Zonites_ is chiefly South European, but the other genera are of

wide range, and none are peculiar to the island.

The marine shells are mostly Mediterranean, or West Indian species, with

some found in the Indian Ocean; only 4 or 5 species being peculiar to the

island.

_Tristan d'Acunha._--This small island is situated nearly midway between

the Cape of Good Hope and the mouth of the La Plata, but it is rather

nearer Africa than America, and a little nearer still to St. Helena. An

island so truly oceanic and of whose productions so little is known, cannot

be placed in any region, and is only noticed here because it comes

naturally after St. Helena. It is known to possess three peculiar land

birds. One is a thrush (_Nesocichla eremita_) whose exact affinities are

not determined; the other a small water-hen (_Gallinula nesiotis_) allied

to our native species, but with shorter and softer wings, which the bird

does not use for flight. A finch of the genus _Crithagra_ shows African

affinities; while another recently described as _Nesospiza acunhæ_ (Journ.

für Orn. 1873, p. 154) forms a new genus said to resemble more nearly some

American forms.

{272}The only known land-shells are 2 peculiar species of _Balea,_ a genus

only found elsewhere in Europe and Brazil.

_IV. Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands, or the Malagasy Sub-region._

This insular sub-region is one of the most remarkable zoological districts

on the globe, bearing a similar relation to Africa as the Antilles to

tropical America, or New Zealand to Australia, but possessing a much richer

fauna than either of these, and in some respects a more remarkable one even

than New Zealand. It comprises, besides Madagascar, the islands of

Mauritius, Bourbon, and Rodriguez, the Seychelles and Comoro islands.

Madagascar itself is an island of the first class, being a thousand miles

long and about 250 miles in average width. It lies parallel to the coast of

Africa, near the southern tropic, and is separated by 230 miles of sea from

the nearest part of the continent, although a bank of soundings projecting

from its western coast reduces this distance to about 160 miles. Madagascar

is a mountainous island, and the greater part of the interior consists of

open elevated plateaus; but between these and the coast there intervene

broad belts of luxuriant tropical forests. It is this forest-district which

has yielded most of those remarkable types of animal life which we shall

have to enumerate; and it is probable that many more remain to be

discovered. As all the main features of this sub-region are developed in

Madagascar, we shall first endeavour to give a complete outline of the

fauna of that country, and afterwards show how far the surrounding islands

partake of its peculiarities.

_Mammalia._--The fauna of Madagascar is tolerably rich in genera and

species of mammalia, although these belong to a very limited number of

families and orders. It is especially characterized by its abundance of

Lemuridæ and Insectivora; it also possesses a few peculiar Carnivora of

small size; but most of the other groups in which Africa is especially

rich--apes and monkeys, lions, leopards and hyænas, zebras, giraffes,

antelopes, elephants and rhinoceroses, and even porcupines and squirrels,

are wholly wanting. No less than 40 distinct families of land {273}mammals

are represented on the continent of Africa, only 11 of which occur in

Madagascar, which also possesses 3 families peculiar to itself. The

following is a list of all the genera of Mammalia as yet known to inhabit

the island:--

PRIMATES.

LEMURIDÆ.

Indrisinæ. Species.

_Indris_ 6

Lemurinæ.

_Lemur_ 15

_Hapalemur_ 2

_Microcebus_ 4

_Chirogaleus_ 5

_Lepilemur_ 2

CHIROMYIDÆ.

_Chiromys_ 1

BATS--(Chiroptera).

PTEROPIDÆ.

Pteropus 2

RHINOLOPHIDÆ.

Rhinolophus 1

VESPERTILIONIDÆ.

Vespertilio 1

Taphozous 1

NOCTILIONIDÆ.

Nyctinomus 1

INSECTIVORA.

CENTETIDÆ.

_Centetes_ 2

_Hemicentetes_ 2

_Ericulus_ 2

_Oryzorictes_ 1

_Echinops_ 3

SORICIDÆ.

Sorex 1

CARNIVORA.

CRYPTOPROCTIDÆ.

_Cryptoprocta_ 1

VIVERRIDÆ.

_Fossa_ 2

_Galidia_ 3

_Galidictis_ 2

_Eupleres_ 1

UNGULATA.

SUIDÆ.

Potamochoerus 1

RODENTIA.

MURIDÆ.

_Nesomys_ 1

_Hypogeomys_ 1

_Brachytarsomys_ 1

We have here a total of 12 families, 27 genera, and 65 species of Mammals;

3 of the families and 20 of the genera (indicated by italics) being

peculiar. All the species are peculiar, except perhaps one or two of the

wandering bats. Remains of a _Hippopotamus_ have been found in a sub-fossil

condition, showing that this animal probably inhabited the island at a not

very remote epoch.

The assemblage of animals above noted is remarkable, and seems to indicate

a very ancient connection with the southern portion of Africa, before the

apes, ungulates, and felines had entered it. The lemurs, which are here so

largely developed, are {274}represented by a single group in Africa, with

two peculiar forms on the West coast. They also re-appear under peculiar

and isolated forms in Southern India and Malaya, and are evidently but the

remains of a once wide-spread group, since in Eocene times they inhabited

North America and Europe, and very probably the whole northern hemisphere.

The Insectivora are another group of high antiquity, widely scattered over

the globe under a number of peculiar forms; but in no equally limited area

represented by so many peculiar types as in Madagascar. South and West

Africa are also rich in this order.

The Carnivora of Madagascar are mostly peculiar forms of Viverridæ, or

civets, a family now almost confined to the Ethiopian and Oriental regions,

but which was abundant in Europe during the Miocene period.

The _Potamochoerus_ is a peculiar _species_ only, which may be perhaps

explained by the unusual swimming powers of swine, and the semi-aquatic

habits of this genus, leading to an immigration at a later period than in

the case of the other Mammalia. The same remark will apply to the small

_Hippopotamus_, which was coeval with the great Struthious bird Æpiornis.

Rodents are only represented by three peculiar forms of Muridæ, but it is

probable that others remain to be discovered.

_Birds._--Madagascar is exceedingly rich in birds, and especially in

remarkable forms of Passeres. No less than 88 genera and 111 species of

land-birds have been discovered, and every year some additions are being

made to the list. The African families of Passeres are almost all

represented, only two being absent--Paridæ and Fringillidæ, both very

poorly represented in Africa itself. Among the Picariæ, however, the case

is very different, no less than 7 families being absent, viz.--Picidæ, or

woodpeckers; Indicatoridæ, or honey-guides; Megalæmidæ, or barbets;

Musophagidæ, or plantain-eaters; Coliidæ, or colies; Bucerotidæ, or

hornbills; and Irrisoridæ, or mockers. Three of these are peculiar to

Africa, and all are well represented there, so that their absence from

Madagascar is a very remarkable fact. The number of peculiar genera in

Madagascar constitutes one of the main features of its ornithology, and

many of these are so {275}isolated that it is very difficult to classify

them, and they remain to this day a puzzle to ornithologists. In order to

exhibit clearly the striking characteristics of the bird-fauna of this

island, we shall first give a list of all the peculiar genera; another, of

the genera of which the species only are peculiar; and, lastly, a list of

the species which Madagascar possesses in common with the African

continent.

GENERA OF BIRDS PECULIAR TO MADAGASCAR, OR FOUND ELSEWHERE ONLY IN THE

MASCARENE ISLANDS.

SYLVIIDÆ. Species.

1. Bernieria 2

2. Ellisia 1

3. Mystacornis 1

4. Eroessa 1

5. Gervasia 1

TIMALIIDÆ.

6. Oxylabes 2

CINCLIDÆ(?).

7. Mesites 1

SITTIDÆ.

8. _Hypherpes_ 1

PYCNONOTIDÆ(?)

9. Tylas 1

ORIOLIDÆ.

10. Artamia 3

11. Cyanolanius 1

MUSCICAPIDÆ.

12. Newtonia 1

13. Pseudobias 1

LANIIDÆ.

14. Calicalicus(?) 1

15. Vanga 4

NECTARINIIDÆ.

16. Neodrepanis 1

HIRUNDINIDÆ.

17. Phedina 1

PLOCEIDÆ.

18. Nelicurvius 1

STURNIDÆ.

19. Euryceros(?) 1

20. Hartlaubia 1

21. Falculia 1

PAICTIDÆ.

22. Philepitta 1

CUCULIDÆ.

23. Coua 9

24. Cochlothraustes 1

LEPTOSOMIDÆ.

25. Leptosomus 1

CORACIIDÆ.

26. Atelornis 2

27. Brachypteracias 1

28. Geobiastes 1

PSITTACIDÆ.

29. Coracopsis 2

COLUMBIDÆ.

30. _Alectrænas_ 1

TETRAONIDÆ.

31. _Margaroperdix_ 1

FALCONIDÆ.

32. Nisoides 1

33. Eutriorchis 1

--

Total species of peculiar genera 50

ÆPYORNITHIDÆ(extinct).

34. Æpyornis 1

{276}ETHIOPIAN OR ORIENTAL GENERA WHICH ARE REPRESENTED IN MADAGASCAR BY

PECULIAR SPECIES.

TURDIDÆ. Species.

1. Bessonornis 1

SYLVIIDÆ.

2. Acrocephalus 1

3. _Copsychus (Or.)_ 1

4. Pratincola 1

PYCNONOTIDÆ.

5. _Hypsipetes (Or.)_ 1

6. Andropadus 1

CAMPEPHAGIDÆ.

7. Campephaga 1

DICRURIDÆ.

8. Dicrurus 1

MUSCICAPIDÆ.

9. Tchitrea 1

LANIIDÆ.

10. Laniarius 1

NECTARINIIDÆ.

11. Nectarinia 1

PLOCEIIDÆ.

12. Foudia 2

13. Hypargos 1

14. Spermestes 1

ALAUDIDÆ.

15. Mirafra 1

MOTACILLIDÆ.

16. Motacilla 1

CUCULIDÆ.

17. Ceuthmochares 1

18. Centropus 1

19. Cuculus 1

CORACIIDÆ.

20. Eurystomus 1

ALCEDINIDÆ.

21. Corythornis 1

22. Ispidina 1

UPUPIDÆ.

23. Upupa (?) 1

CAPRIMULGIDÆ.

24. Caprimulgus 1

CYPSELIDÆ.

25. Cypselus 2

26. Chætura 1

PSITTACIDÆ.

27. Poliopsitta 1

COLUMBIDÆ.

28. Treron 1

29. Columba 1

30. Turtur 1

PTEROCLIDÆ.

31. Pterocles 1

TETRAONIDÆ.

32. Francolinus 1

PHASIANIDÆ.

33. Numida 1

TURNICIDÆ.

34. Turnix 1

FALCONIDÆ.

35. Polyboroides 1

36. Circus 1

37. Astur 3

38. Accipiter 1

39. Buteo 1

40. Haliæetus 1

41. Pernis 1

42. Baza 1

43. Cerchneis 1

STRIGIDÆ. {277}

44. Athene 1

45. Scops 1

RALLIDÆ.

46. Rallus 3

47. Porzana 1

SCOLOPACIDÆ.

48. Gallinago 1

PLATALEIDÆ.

49. Ibis 1

PODICIPIDÆ.

50. Podiceps 1

--

Total peculiar species of Eth. }

or Or. genera } 56

SPECIES OF BIRDS COMMON TO MADAGASCAR AND AFRICA OR ASIA.

1. Cisticola cursitans.

2. Corvus scapulatus.

3. Crithagra canicollis.

4. Merops superciliosus.

5. Collocalia fuciphaga.

6. Oena capensis.

7. Aplopelia tympanistria.

8. Falco minor.

9. Falco concolor.

10. Milvus ægyptius.

11. Milvus migrans.

12. Strix flammea.

These three tables show us an amount of speciality hardly to be found in

the birds of any other part of the globe. Out of 111 land-birds in

Madagascar, only 12 are identical with species inhabiting the adjacent

continents, and most of these belong to powerful-winged, or wide-ranging

forms, which probably now often pass from one country to the other. The

peculiar species--49 land-birds and 7 waders, or aquatics--are mostly

well-marked forms of African genera. There are, however, several genera

(marked by italics) which have Oriental or Palæarctic affinities, but not

African, viz.--_Copsychus_, _Hypsipetes_, _Hypherpes_, _Alectrænas_, and

_Margaroperdix_. These indicate a closer approximation to the Malay

countries than now exists.

The table of 33 peculiar genera is of great interest. Most of these are

well-marked forms, belonging to families which are fully developed in

Africa; though it is singular that not one of the exclusively African

families is represented in any way in Madagascar. Others, however, are of

remote or altogether doubtful affinities. _Sittidæ_ is Oriental and

Palæarctic, but not Ethiopian. _Oxylabes_ and _Mystacornis_ are of doubtful

affinities. _Artamia_ and _Cyanolanius_ still more so, and it is quite

undecided what family they belong to. _Calicalicus_ is almost equally

obscure. _Neodrepanis_, one of the most recent discoveries, seems to

connect the Nectariniidæ with the Pacific {278}Depanididæ. _Euryceros_ is a

complete puzzle, having been placed with the hornbills, the starlings, or

as a distinct family. _Falculia_ is an exceedingly aberrant form of

starling, long thought to be allied to _Irrisor_. _Philepitta_, forming a

distinct family, (Paictidæ), is most remarkable and isolated, perhaps with

remote South American affinities. _Leptosoma_ is another extraordinary

form, connecting the cuckoos with the rollers. _Atelornis_,

_Brachypteracias_, and _Geobiastes_, are terrestrial rollers, with the form

and colouring of _Pitta_. So many perfectly isolated and remarkable groups

are certainly nowhere else to be found; and they fitly associate with the

wonderful aye-aye (_Chiromys_), the insectivorous Centetidæ, and

carnivorous _Cryptoprocta_ among the Mammalia. They speak to us plainly of

enormous antiquity, of long-continued isolation; and not less plainly of a

lost continent or continental island, in which so many, and various, and

peculiarly organized creatures, could have been gradually developed in a

connected fauna, of which we have here but the fragmentary remains.

_Plate VI.--Illustrating the characteristic features of the Zoology of

Madagascar._--The lemurs, which form the most prominent feature in the

zoology of Madagascar, being comparatively well-known from the numerous

specimens in our zoological gardens; and good figures of the Insectivorous

genera not being available, we have represented the nocturnal and

extraordinary aye-aye (_Chiromys madagascariensis_) to illustrate its

peculiar and probably very ancient mammalian fauna; while the river-hogs in

the distance (_Potamochoerus edwardsii_) allied to African species,

indicate a later immigration from the mainland than in the case of most of

the other Mammalia. The peculiar birds being far less generally known, we

have figured three of them. The largest is the _Euryceros prevosti_, here

classed with the starlings, although its remarkable bill and other

peculiarities render it probable that it should form a distinct family. Its

colours are velvety black and rich brown with the bill of a pearly grey.

The bird beneath (_Vanga curvirostris_) is one of the peculiar Madagascar

shrikes whose plumage, variegated with green-black and pure white is very

conspicuous; while that in the right hand corner is the _Leptosoma

discolor_, a bird which appears to be intermediate between such very

distinct families as the cuckoos and the rollers, and is therefore

considered to form a family by itself. It is a coppery-green above and

nearly white beneath, with a black bill and red feet. The fan-shaped plant

on the left is the traveller's tree (_Urania speciosa_), one of the

peculiar forms of vegetation in this marvellous island.

Plate VI.

[Illustration]

SCENE IN MADAGASCAR, WITH CHARACTERISTIC ANIMALS.

{279}_Reptiles._--These present some very curious features, comparatively

few of the African groups being represented, while there are a considerable

number of Eastern and even of American forms. Beginning with the snakes, we

find, in the enormous family of Colubridæ, none of the African types; but

instead of them three genera--_Herpetodryas_, _Philodryas_, and

_Heterodon_--only found elsewhere in South and North America. The

Psammophidæ, which are both African and Indian, are represented by a

peculiar genus, _Mimophis_. The Dendrophidæ are represented by _Ahætulla_,

a genus which is both African and American. The Dryiophidæ, which inhabit

all the tropics but are most developed in the Oriental region, are

represented by a peculiar genus, _Langaha_. The tropical Pythonidæ are

represented by another peculiar genus, _Sanzinia_. The Lycodontidæ and

Viperidæ, so well developed in Africa, are entirely absent.

The lizards are no less remarkable. The Zonuridæ, abundantly developed in

Africa, are represented by one peculiar genus, _Cicigna_. The wide-spread

Scincidæ by another peculiar genus, _Pygomeles_. The African Sepsidæ, are

represented by three genera, two of which are African, and one,

_Amphiglossus_, peculiar. The Acontiadæ are represented by a species of the

African genus _Acontias_. Of Scincidæ there is the wide-spread _Euprepes_.

The Sepidæ are represented by the African genera _Seps_ and _Scelotes_. The

Geckotidæ are not represented by any purely African genera, but by

_Phyllodactylus_, which is American and Australian; _Hemidactylus_, which

is spread over all the tropics; by two peculiar genera; and by _Uroplatis_,

_Geckolepis_, and _Phelsuma_, confined to Madagascar, Bourbon, and the

Andaman Islands. The Agamidæ, which are mostly Oriental and are represented

in {280}Africa by the single genus _Agama_, have here three peculiar

genera, _Tracheloptychus_, _Chalarodon_, and _Hoplurus_. Lastly, the

American Iguanidæ are said to be represented by a species of the South

American genus _Oplurus_. The classification of Reptiles is in such an

unsettled state that some of these determinations of affinities are

probably erroneous; but it is not likely that any corrections which may be

required will materially affect the general bearing of the evidence, as

indicating a remarkable amount of Oriental and American relationship.

The other groups are of less interest. Tortoises are represented by two

African or wide-spread genera of Testudinidæ, _Testudo_ and _Chersina_, and

by one peculiar genus, _Pyxis_; and there are also two African genera of

Chelydidæ.

The Amphibia are not very well known. They appear to be confined to species

of the wide-spread Ethiopian and Oriental genera--_Hylarana_,

_Polypedates_, and _Rappia_ (Polypedatidæ); and _Pyxicephalus_ (Ranidæ).

_Fresh-water Fishes._--These appear to be at present almost unknown. When

carefully collected they will no doubt furnish some important facts.

_The Mascarene Islands._

The various islands which surround Madagascar--Bourbon, Mauritius,

Rodriguez, the Seychelles, and the Comoro Islands--all partake in a

considerable degree of its peculiar fauna, while having some special

features of their own.

Indigenous Mammalia (except bats) are probably absent from all these

islands (except the Comoros), although _Lemur_ and _Centetes_ are given as

natives of Bourbon and Mauritius. They have, however, perhaps been

introduced from Madagascar. _Lemur mayottensis_, a peculiar species, is

found in the Comoro Islands, where a Madagascar species of _Viverra_ also

occurs.

Bourbon and Mauritius may be taken together, as they much resemble each

other. They each possess species of a peculiar genus of Campephagidæ, or

caterpillar shrikes, _Oxynotus_; while the remarkable _Fregilupus_,

belonging to the starling family, inhabits Bourbon, if it is not now

extinct. They also have {281}peculiar species of _Pratincola_,

_Hypsipetes_, _Phedina_, _Tchitrea_, _Zosterops_, _Foudia_, _Collocalia_,

and _Coracopsis_; while Mauritius has a very peculiar form of dove of the

sub-genus _Trocaza_; an _Alectrænas_, extinct within the last thirty years;

and a species of the Oriental genus of parroquets, _Palæornis_. The small

and remote island of Rodriguez has another _Palæornis_, as well as a

peculiar _Foudia_, and a _Drymoeca_ of apparently Indian affinity.

Coming to the Seychelle Islands, far to the north, we find the only mammal

an Indian species of bat (_Pteropus edwardsii_). Of the twelve land-birds

all but one are peculiar species, but all belong to genera found also in

Madagascar, except one--a peculiar species of _Palæornis_. This is an

Oriental genus, but found also in several Mascarene Islands and on the

African continent. A species of black parrot (_Coracopsis barklayi_) and a

weaver bird of peculiar type (_Foudia seychellarum_) show, however, a

decided connection with Madagascar. There are also two peculiar pigeons--a

short-winged _Turtur_ and an _Alectrænas_.

Most of the birds of the Comoro Islands are Madagascar species, only two

being African. Five are peculiar, belonging to the genera _Nectarinia_,

_Zosterops_, _Dicrurus_, _Foudia_, and _Alectrænas_.

Reptiles are scarce. There appear to be no snakes in Mauritius and Bourbon,

though some African species are said to be found in the Seychelle Islands.

Lizards are fairly represented. Mauritius has _Cryptoblepharus_, an

Australian genus of Gymnopthalmidæ; _Hemidactylus_ (a wide-spread genus);

_Peropus_ (Oriental and Australian)--both belonging to the Geckotidæ.

Bourbon has _Heteropus_, a Moluccan and Australian genus of Scincidæ;

_Phelsuma_ (Geckotidæ), and _Chameleo_, both found also in Madagascar; as

well as _Pyxis_, one of the tortoises. The Seychelles have _Theconyx_, a

peculiar genus of Geckotidæ, and _Chameleo_. Gigantic land-tortoises, which

formerly inhabited most of the Mascarene Islands, now only survive in

Aldabra, a small island north of the Seychelles. These will be noticed

again further on. Amphibia seem only to be recorded from the Seychelles,

where two genera of tree-frogs of the family Polypedatidæ are found; one

(_Megalixalus_) peculiar, the other (_Rappia_) found also in Madagascar and

Africa.

{282}The few insect groups peculiar to these islands will be noted when we

deal with the entomology of Madagascar.

_Extinct fauna of the Mascarene Islands and Madagascar._--Before quitting

the vertebrate groups, we must notice the remarkable birds which have

become extinct in these islands little more than a century ago. The most

celebrated is the dodo of the Mauritius (_Didus ineptus_), but an allied

genus, _Pezophaps_, inhabited Rodriguez, and of both of these almost

perfect skeletons have been recovered. Other species probably existed in

Bourbon. Remains of two genera of flightless rails have also been found,

_Aphanapteryx_ and _Erythromachus_; and even a heron (_Ardea megacephala_)

which was short-winged and seldom flew; while in Madagascar there lived a

gigantic Struthious bird, the _Æpyornis_. Some further details as to these

extinct forms will be found under the respective families, Dididæ, Rallidæ,

and Æpyornithidæ, in the fourth part of this work; and their bearing on the

past history of the region will be adverted to in the latter part of this

chapter. Dr. Günther has recently distinguished five species of fossil

tortoises from Mauritius and Rodriguez,--all of them quite different from

the living species of Aldabra.

_Insects._--The butterflies of Madagascar are not so remarkable as some

other orders of insects. There seems to be only one peculiar genus,

_Heteropsis_ (Satyridæ). The other genera are African, _Leptoneura_ being

confined to Madagascar and South Africa. There are some fine _Papilios_ of

uncommon forms. The most interesting lepidopterous insect, however, is the

fine diurnal moth (_Urania_), as all the other species of the genus inhabit

tropical America and the West Indian Islands.

The Coleoptera have been better collected, and exhibit some very remarkable

affinities. There is but one peculiar genus of Cicindelidæ, _Pogonostoma_,

which is allied to the South American genus, _Ctenostoma_. Another genus,

_Peridexia_, is common to Madagascar and South America. None of the

important African genera are represented, except _Eurymorpha_; while

_Meglaomma_ is common to Madagascar and the Oriental region.

In the Carabidæ we have somewhat similar phenomena on a {283}wider scale.

Such large and important African genera as _Polyhirma_ and _Anthia_, are

absent; but there are four genera in common with South Africa, and two with

West Africa; while three others are as much Oriental as African. One genus,

_Distrigus_, is wholly Oriental; and another, _Homalosoma_, Australian.

_Colpodes_, well developed in Bourbon and Mauritius, is Oriental and South

American. Of the peculiar genera, _Sphærostylis_ has South American

affinities; _Microchila_, Oriental; the others being related to widely

distributed genera.

The Lucanidæ are few in number, and all have African affinities. Madagascar

is very rich in Cetoniidæ, and possesses 20 peculiar genera. _Bothrorhina_,

and three other genera belonging to the _Ichnostoma_ group, have wholly

African relations. _Doryscelis_ and _Chromoptila_ are no less clearly

allied to Oriental genera. A series of eight peculiar genera belong to the

Schizorhinidæ, a family the bulk of which are Australian, while there are

only a few African forms. The remaining genera appear to have African

affinities, but few of the peculiarly African genera are represented.

_Glyciphana_ is characteristic of the Oriental region.

The Buprestidæ of Madagascar consist mainly of one large and peculiar

genus, _Polybothris_, allied to the almost cosmopolite _Psiloptera_. Most

of the other genera are both Ethiopian and Oriental; but _Polycesta_ is

mainly South American, and the remarkable and isolated genus _Sponsor_ is

confined to the Mauritius with a species in Celebes and New Guinea.

The Longicorns are numerous and interesting, there being no less than 24

peculiar genera. Two of the genera of Prionidæ are very isolated, while a

third, _Closterus_, belongs to a group which is Malayan and American.

Of the Cerambycidæ, _Philematium_ ranges to Africa and the West Indies;

_Leptocera_ is only found eastward in Ceylon and the New Hebrides; while

_Euporus_ is African. Of the peculiar genera, 2 are of African type; 3

belong to the _Leptura_ group, which are mostly Palæarctic and Oriental,

with a few in South Africa; while _Philocalocera_ is allied to a South

American genus.

Among the Lamiidæ there are several wide-ranging and 7 {284}African genera;

but _Coptops_ is Oriental, and the Oriental _Praonetha_ occurs in the

Comoro Islands. Among the peculiar genera several have African affinities,

but _Tropidema_ belongs to a group which is Oriental and Australian;

_Oopsis_ is found also in the Pacific Islands; _Mythergates_, _Sulemus_,

and _Coedomæa_, are allied to Malayan and American genera.

_General Remarks on the Insect-fauna of Madagascar._--Taking the insects as

a whole, we find the remarkable result that their affinities are largely

Oriental, Australian, and South American: while the African element is

represented chiefly by special South African or West African forms, rather

than by such as are widely spread over the Ethiopian region.[11] In some

families--as Cetoniidæ and Lamiidæ--the African element appears to

preponderate; in others--as Cicindelidæ--the South American affinity seems

strongest; in Carabidæ, perhaps the Oriental; while in Buprestidæ and

Cerambycidæ the African and foreign elements seem nearly balanced. We must

not impute too much importance to these foreign alliances among insects,

because we find examples of them in every country on the globe. The reason

they are so much more pronounced in Madagascar may be, that during long

periods of time this island has served as a refuge for groups that have

been dying out on the great continents; and that, owing to the numerous

deficiencies of a somewhat similar kind in the series of vertebrata in

Australia and South America, the same groups have often been able to

maintain themselves in all these countries as well as in Madagascar. It

must be remembered too, that these peculiarities in the Malagasy and

Mascarene insect-fauna are but exaggerations of a like phenomenon on the

mainland. Africa also has numerous affinities with South America, with the

Malay countries, and with Australia; but they do not bear anything like so

large a proportion to the whole fauna, and do not, therefore, attract so

much attention. The special conditions of existence and the long-continued

isolation of Madagascar, will account for much of this difference; and it

will evidently not be necessary {285}to introduce, as some writers are

disposed to do, a special land connection or near approach between

Madagascar and all these countries, independently of Africa; except perhaps

in the case of the Malay Islands, as will be discussed further on.

_Land-shells._--Madagascar and the adjacent islands are all rich in

land-shells. The genera of Helicidæ are _Vitrina_, _Helix_, _Achatina_,

_Columna_ (peculiar to Madagascar and West Africa), _Buliminus_, _Cionella_

(chiefly Oriental and South American, but not African), _Pupa_,

_Streptaxis_, and _Succinea_. Among the Operculata we have _Truncatella_

(widely scattered, but not African); _Cyclotus_ (South American, Oriental,

and South African); _Cyclophorus_ (mostly Oriental, with a few South

African); _Leptopoma_ (Oriental); _Megalomastoma_ (Malayan and South

American); _Lithidion_ (peculiar to Madagascar, Socotra, and South-West

Arabia); _Otopoma_ (with the same range, but extending to West India and

New Ireland); _Cyclostomus_ (widely spread but not African); and

_Omphalotropis_ (wholly Oriental and Australian). We thus find the same

general features reproduced in the land-shells as in the insects, and the

same remarks will to a great extent apply to both. The classification of

the former is, however, by no means so satisfactory, and we have no

extensive and accurate general catalogues of shells, like those of

Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, which have furnished us with such valuable

materials for the comparison of the several faunas.

_On the probable Past History of the Ethiopian Region._

Perhaps none of the great zoological regions of the earth present us with

problems of greater difficulty or higher interest than the Ethiopian. We

find in it the evidence of several distinct and successive faunas, now

intermingled; and it is very difficult, with our present imperfect

knowledge, to form an adequate conception of how and when the several

changes occurred. There are, however, a few points which seem sufficiently

clear, and these afford us a secure foundation in our endeavour to

comprehend the rest.

Let us then consider what are the main facts we have to account for.--1. In

Continental Africa, more especially in the south {286}and west, we find,

along with much that is peculiar, a number of genera showing a decided

Oriental, and others with an equally strong South American affinity; this

latter more particularly showing itself among reptiles and insects. 2. All

over Africa, but more especially in the east, we have abundance of large

ungulates and felines--antelopes, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, and

rhinoceroses, with lions, leopards, and hyænas, all of types now or

recently found in India and Western Asia. 3. But we also have to note the

absence of a number of groups which abound in the above-named countries,

such as deer, bears, moles, and true pigs; while camels and

goats--characteristic of the desert regions just to the north of the

Ethiopian--are equally wanting. 4. There is a wonderful unity of type and

want of speciality in the vast area of our first sub-region extending from

Senegal across to the east coast, and southward to the Zambezi; while West

Africa and South Africa each abound in peculiar types. 5. We have the

extraordinary fauna of Madagascar to account for, with its evident main

derivation from Africa, yet wanting all the larger and higher African

forms; its resemblances to Malaya and to South America; and its wonderful

assemblage of altogether peculiar types.

Here we find a secure starting-point, for we are sure that Madagascar must

have been separated from Africa before the assemblage of large animals

enumerated above, had entered it. Now, it is a suggestive fact, that all

these belong to types which abounded in Europe and India about the Miocene

period. It is also known, from the prevalence of Tertiary deposits over the

Sahara and much of Arabia, Persia, and Northern India, that during early

Tertiary times a continuous sea from the Bay of Bengal to the British Isles

completely cut off all land communication between Central and Southern

Africa on the one side, and the great continent of the Eastern hemisphere

on the other. When Africa was thus isolated, its fauna probably had a

character somewhat analogous to that of South America at the same period.

Most of the higher types of mammalian life were absent, while lemurs,

Edentates, and Insectivora took their place. At this period Madagascar was

no doubt united with Africa, {287}and helped to form a great southern

continent which must at one time have extended eastward as far as Southern

India and Ceylon; and over the whole of this the lemurine type no doubt

prevailed.

During some portion of this period, South Temperate Africa must have had a

much greater extension, perhaps indicated by the numerous shoals and rocks

to the south and east of the Cape of Good Hope, and by the Crozets and

Kerguelen Islands further to the south-east. This would have afforded means

for that intercommunion with Western Australia which is so clearly marked

in the flora, and to some extent also in the insects of the two countries;

and some such extension is absolutely required for the development of that

wonderfully rich and peculiar temperate flora and fauna, which, now crowded

into a narrow territory, is one of the greatest marvels of the organic

world.

During this early period, when the great southern continents--South

America, Africa, and Australia--were equally free from the incursions of

the destructive felines of the north, the Struthious or ostrich type of

birds was probably developed into its existing forms. It is not at all

necessary to suppose that these three continents were at any time united,

in order to account for the distribution of these great terrestrial birds;

as this may have arisen by at least two other easily conceivable modes. The

ancestral Struthious type may, like the Marsupial, have once spread over

the larger portion of the globe; but as higher forms, especially of

Carnivora, became developed, it would be exterminated everywhere but in

those regions where it was free from their attacks. In each of these it

would develope into special forms adapted to surrounding conditions; and

the large size, great strength, and excessive speed of the ostrich, may

have been a comparatively late development caused by its exposure to the

attacks of enemies which rendered such modification necessary. This seems

the most probable explanation of the distribution of Struthious birds, and

it is rendered almost certain by the discovery of remains of this order in

Europe in Eocene deposits, and by the occurrence of an ostrich among the

fossils of the Siwalik hills; but it is just possible, also, that the

{288}ancestral type may have been a bird capable of flight, and that it

spread from one of the three southern continents to the others at the

period of their near approach, and more or less completely lost the power

of flight owing to the long continued absence of enemies.

During the period we have been considering, the ancestors of existing apes

and monkeys flourished (as we have seen in Chapter VI.) along the whole

southern shores of the old Palæarctic continent; and it seems likely that

they first entered Africa by means of a land connection indicated by the

extensive and lofty plateaus of the Sahara, situated to the south-east of

Tunis and reaching to a little north-west of Lake Tchad; and at the same

time the elephant and rhinoceros type may have entered. This will account

for the curious similarity between the higher faunas of West Africa and the

Indo-Malay sub-region, for owing to the present distribution of land and

sea and the narrowing of the tropical zone since Miocene times, these are

now the only lowland, equatorial, forest-clad countries, which were in

connection with the southern shores of the old Palæarctic continent at the

time of its greatest luxuriance and development. This western connection

did not probably last long, the junction that led to the greatest incursion

of new forms, and the complete change in the character of the African

fauna, having apparently been effected by way of Syria and the shores of

the Red Sea at a somewhat later date. By this route the old

South-Palæarctic fauna, indicated by the fossils of Pikermi and the Siwalik

Hills, poured into Africa; and finding there a new and favourable country,

almost wholly unoccupied by large Mammalia, increased to an enormous

extent, developed into new forms, and finally overran the whole continent.

Before this occurred, however, a great change had taken place in the

geography of Africa. It had gradually diminished on the south and east;

Madagascar had been left isolated; while a number of small islands, banks,

and coral reefs in the Indian Ocean alone remained to indicate the position

of a once extensive equatorial land. The Mascarene Islands appear to

represent the portion which separated earliest, before any carnivora had

{289}reached the country; and it was in consequence of this total exemption

from danger, that several groups of birds altogether incapable of flight

became developed here, culminating in the huge and unwieldy Dodo, and the

more active Aphanapteryx. To the same cause may be attributed the

development, in these islands, of gigantic land-tortoises, far surpassing

any others now living on the globe. They appear to have formerly inhabited

Mauritius, Bourbon, and Rodriguez, and perhaps all the other Mascarene

islands, but having been recklessly destroyed, now only survive in the

small uninhabited Aldabra islands north of the Seychelle group. The largest

living specimen (5½ feet long) is now in our Zoological Gardens. The only

other place where equally large tortoises (of an allied species) are found,

is the Galapagos islands, where they were equally free from enemies till

civilized man came upon the scene; who, partly by using them for food,

partly by the introduction of pigs, which destroy the eggs, has greatly

diminished their numbers and size, and will probably soon wholly

exterminate them. It is a curious fact, ascertained by Dr. Günther, that

the tortoises of the Galapagos are more nearly related to the extinct

tortoises of Mauritius than is the living tortoise of Aldabra. This would

imply that several distinct groups or sub-genera of _Testudo_ have had a

wide range over the globe, and that some of each have survived in very

distant localities. This is rendered quite conceivable by the known

antiquity of the genus _Testudo_, which dates back to at least the Eocene

formation (in North America) with very little change of form. These

sluggish reptiles, so long-lived and so tenacious of life, may have

remained unchanged, while every higher animal type around them has become

extinct and been replaced by very different forms; as in the case of the

living _Emys tectum_, which is the sole survivor of the strange Siwalik

fauna of the Miocene epoch. The ascertained history of the genus and the

group, thus affords a satisfactory explanation of the close affinity of the

gigantic tortoises of Mauritius and the Galapagos.

The great island of Madagascar seems to have remained longer united with

Africa, till some of the smaller and more active {290}carnivora had reached

it; and we consequently find there, no wholly terrestrial form of bird but

the gigantic and powerful _Æpyornis_, well able to defend itself against

such enemies. As already intimated, we refer the South American element in

Madagascar, not to any special connection of the two countries

independently of Africa, but to the preservation there of a number of

forms, some derived from America through Africa, others of once almost

cosmopolitan range, but which, owing to the severer competition, have

become extinct on the African continent, while they have continued to exist

under modified forms in the two other countries.

The depths of all the great oceans are now known to be so profound, that we

cannot conceive the elevation of their beds above the surface without some

corresponding depression elsewhere. And if, as is probable, these opposite

motions of the earth's crust usually take place in parallel bands, and are

to some extent dependent on each other, an elevation of the sea bed could

hardly fail to lead to the submergence of large tracts of existing

continents; and this is the more likely to occur on account of the great

disproportion that we have seen exists between the mean height of the land

and the mean depth of the ocean. Keeping this principle in view, we may,

with some probability, suggest the successive stages by which the Ethiopian

region assumed its present form, and acquired the striking peculiarities

that characterise its several sub-regions. During the early period, when

the rich and varied temperate flora of the Cape, and its hardly less

peculiar forms of insects and of low type mammalia, were in process of

development in an extensive south temperate land, we may be pretty sure

that the whole of the east and much of the north of Africa was deep sea. At

a later period, when this continent sank towards the south and east, the

elevation may have occurred which connected Madagascar with Ceylon; and

only at a still later epoch, when the Indian Ocean had again been formed,

did central, eastern, and northern Africa gradually rise above the ocean,

and effect a connection with the great northern continent by way of

Abyssinia and Arabia. And if this last change took place with

{291}tolerable rapidity, or if the elevatory force acted from the north

towards the south, there would be a new and unoccupied territory to be

taken possession of by immigrants from the north, together with a few from

the south and west. The more highly-organised types from the great northern

continent, however, would inevitably prevail; and we should thus have

explained the curious uniformity in the fauna of so large an area, together

with the absence from it of those peculiar Ethiopian types which so

abundantly characterise the other three sub-regions.

We may now perhaps see the reason of the singular absence from tropical

Africa of deer and bears; for these are both groups which live in fertile

or well-wooded countries, whereas the line of immigration from Europe to

Africa was probably always, as now, to a great extent a dry and desert

tract, suited to antelopes and large felines, but almost impassable to deer

and bears. We find, too, that whereas remains of antelopes and giraffes

abound in the Miocene deposits of Greece, there were no deer (which are

perhaps a somewhat later development); neither were there any bears, but

numerous forms of Felidæ, Viverridæ, Mustelidæ, and ancestral forms of

_Hyæna_, exactly suited to be the progenitors of the most prevalent types

of modern African Zoology.

There appears to have been one other change in the geography of Africa and

the Atlantic Ocean that requires notice. The rather numerous cases of close

similarity in the insect forms of tropical Africa and America, seem to

indicate some better means of transmission, at a not very remote epoch,

than now exists. The vast depth of the Atlantic, and the absence of any

corresponding likeness in the vertebrate fauna, entirely negative the idea

of any union between the two countries; but a moderate extension of their

shores towards each other is not improbable, and this, with large islands

in the place of the Cape Verd group, St. Paul's Rocks, and Fernando

Noronha, to afford resting places in the Atlantic, would probably suffice

to explain the amount of similarity that actually exists.

Our knowledge of the geology and palæontology of Africa {292}being so

scanty, it would be imprudent to attempt any more detailed explanation of

the peculiarities of its existing fauna. The sketch now given is, it is

believed, founded on a sufficient basis of facts to render it not only a

possible but a probable account of what took place; and it is something

gained to be able to show, that a large portion of the peculiarities and

anomalies of so remarkable a fauna as that of the Ethiopian region, can be

accounted for by a series of changes of physical geography during the

tertiary epoch, which can hardly be considered extreme, or in any way

unlikely to have occurred.

{293}TABLES OF DISTRIBUTION.

In drawing up these tables showing the distribution of various classes of

animals in the Ethiopian Region, the following sources of information have

been chiefly relied on, in addition to the general treatises, monographs,

and catalogues, used for the Fourth Part of this work:--

_Mammalia._--Blanford's Abyssinia; Peters's Mozambique; Heuglin and

Schweinfurth for North East Africa; Grandidier Schlegel, &c., for

Madagascar; the local lists given by Mr. Andrew Murray; numerous papers by

Fraser, Gray, Kirk, Mivart, Peters, Sclater, and Speke; and a MS. list of

Bovidæ from Sir Victor Brooke.

_Birds._--Finsch and Hartlaub for East Africa; Heuglin for North-East

Africa; Blanford for Abyssinia; Layard for South Africa; Hartlaub for West

Africa; Dohrn for Princes Island; Andersson for Damaraland; and papers by

Gurney, Hartlaub, Kirk, Newton, Peters, Sharpe, Sclater, Schlegel, and

Pollen and a MS. list of Madagascar Birds from Mr. Sharpe.

{294}TABLE I.

_FAMILIES OF ANIMALS INHABITING THE ETHIOPIAN REGION._

EXPLANATION.

Names in _italics_ show families peculiar to the region.

Names inclosed thus (......) barely enter the region, and are not

considered properly to belong to it.

Numbers are not consecutive, but correspond to those in Part IV.

---------------------+-------------------+-------------------------------

| Sub-regions |

| 1=East Africa. |

Order and Family | 2=West Africa. | Range beyond the Region.

| 3=South Africa. |

| 4=Madagascar. |

---------------------+----+----+----+----+-------------------------------

| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. |

---------------------+----+----+----+----+-------------------------------

| | | | |

MAMMALIA. | | | | |

PRIMATES. | | | | |

1. Simiidæ | | -- | | |Oriental

2. Semnopithecidæ | -- | -- | | |Oriental

3. Cynopithecidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental, Palæarctic

6. Lemuridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental

8. _Chiromyidæ_ | | | | -- |

| | | | |

CHEIROPTERA. | | | | |

9. Pteropidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

11. Rhinolophidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |The Eastern Hemisphere

12. Vespertilionidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

13. Noctilionidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All Tropical regions

| | | | |

INSECTIVORA. | | | | |

15. Macroscelididæ | -- | | -- | |South Palæarctic

17. Erinaceidæ | | | -- | |Palæarctic, Oriental

18. _Centetidæ_ | | | | -- |Greater Antilles

19. _Potamogalidæ_ | | -- | | |

20. _Chrysochloridæ_ | -- | | -- | |

22. Soricidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All regions but Australian and

| | | | | Neotropical

| | | | |

CARNIVORA. | | | | |

23. Felidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All regions but Australian

24. _Cryptoproctidæ_ | | | | -- |

25. Viverridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, S. Palæarctic

26. _Protelidæ_ | | | -- | |

27. Hyænidæ | -- | -- | -- | |S. Palæarctic, India

28. Canidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Almost cosmopolite

29. Mustelidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Australian

33. Otariidæ | | | -- | |All temperate regions

| | | | |

CETACEA. | | | | |

36 to 41. | | | | |Oceanic

| | | | |

SIRENIA. | | | | |

42. Manatidæ | -- | -- | | |Neotropical, Oriental,

| | | | | Australian

| | | | |

UNGULATA. | | | | |

43. Equidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Palæarctic

45. Rhinocerotidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental

46. _Hippopotamidæ_ | -- | -- | -- | |

47. Suidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite; excl. Australia

49. Tragulidæ | | -- | | |Oriental

51. _Camelopardidæ_ | -- | | -- | |

52. Bovidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Neotrop. and

| | | | | Australian

| | | | |

PROBOSCIDEA. | | | | |

53. Elephantidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental

| | | | |

HYRACOIDEA. | | | | |

54. Hyracidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Syria

| | | | |

RODENTIA. | | | | |

55. Muridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite; excl. Oceania

56. Spalacidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Palæarctic, Oriental

57. Dipodidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Palæarctic, Nearctic

58. Myoxidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Palæarctic

61. Sciuridæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Australian

64. Octodontidæ | -- | | | |N. Africa, Neotropical

65. Echimyidæ | -- | | -- | |Neotropical

67. Hystricidæ | -- | -- | -- | |S. Palæarctic, Oriental

70. Leporidæ | -- | | -- | |All regions but Australian

| | | | |

EDENTATA. | | | | |

72. Manididæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental

74. _Orycteropodidæ_ | -- | | -- | |

| | | | |

BIRDS. | | | | |

PASSERES. | | | | |

1. Turdidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost Cosmopolite

2. Sylviidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

3. Timaliidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

5. Cinclidæ? | | | | -- |Widely scattered

6. Troglodytidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Almost Cosmopolite

9. Sittidæ | | | | -- |Palæarctic, Oriental,

| | | | | Australian

10. Paridæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Australian

13. Pycnonotidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental

14. Oriolidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

15. Campephagidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

16. Dicruridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

17. Muscicapidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |The Eastern Hemisphere

19. Laniidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |The Eastern Hemisphere and

| | | | | North America

20. Corvidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

23. Nectariniidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

24. Dicæidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

30. Hirundinidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

33. Fringillidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite, except Australian

| | | | | region

34. Ploceidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

35. Sturnidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Eastern Hemisphere

37. Alaudidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Eastern Hemisphere and North

| | | | | America

38. Motacillidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |The Eastern Hemisphere

47. Pittidæ | | -- | | |Oriental, Australian

48. _Paictidæ_ | | | | -- |

| | | | |

PICARIÆ. | | | | |

51. Picidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Cosmopolite, excl. Australian

| | | | | region

52. Yungidæ | -- | | -- | |Palæarctic

53. Indicatoridæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental

54. Megalæmidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental, Neotropical

56. _Musophagidæ_ | -- | -- | -- | |

57. _Coliidæ_ | -- | -- | -- | |

58. Cuculidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

59. _Leptosomidæ_ | | | | -- |

62. Coraciidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

63. Meropidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian

66. Trogonidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental, Neotropical

67. Alcedinidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

68. Bucerotidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental and to N. Guinea

69. Upupidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Palæarctic, Oriental

70. _Irrisoridæ_ | -- | -- | -- | |

73. Caprimulgidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

74. Cypselidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost Cosmopolite

| | | | |

PSITTACI. | | | | |

78. Palæornithidæ | -- | -- | | -- |Oriental

81. Psittacidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Neotropical

| | | | |

COLUMBÆ. | | | | |

84. Columbidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

85. _Dididæ_ | | | | -- |(Extinct)

| | | | |

GALLINÆ. | | | | |

86. Pteroclidæ | -- | | -- | -- |Palæarctic, Oriental

87. Tetraonidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Eastern Hemisphere and

| | | | | N. America

88. Phasianidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Old World and N. America

89. Turnicidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Eastern Hemisphere.

| | | | |

ACCIPITRES. | | | | |

94. Vulturidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All the continents but

| | | | | Australia

95. _Serpentariidæ_ | -- | -- | -- | |

96. Falconidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

97. Pandionidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

98. Strigidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

| | | | |

GRALLÆ. | | | | |

99. Rallidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

100. Scolopacidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

103. Parridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Tropical

104. Glareolidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Eastern Hemisphere

105. Charadriidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

106. Otididæ | -- | -- | -- | |Eastern Hemisphere

107. Gruidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Neotropical

113. Ardeidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

114. Plataleidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost Cosmopolite

115. Ciconiidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost Cosmopolite

117. Phoenicopteridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental and Neotropical

| | | | |

ANSERES. | | | | |

118. Anatidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

119. Laridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

120. Procellariidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

121. Pelecanidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

122. Spheniscidæ | | | -- | |South temperate regions

124. Podicipidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

126. Struthionidæ | -- | | -- | |Temperate S. America

131. _Æpyornithidæ_ | | | | -- |(Extinct)

| | | | |

REPTILIA. | | | | |

OPHIDIA. | | | | |

1. Typhlopidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All regions but Nearctic

5. Calamariidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Warm parts of all regions

7. Colubridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost Cosmopolite

8. Homalopsidæ | | -- | | |Oriental, and all other regions

9. Psammophidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental and S. Palæarctic

10. _Rachiodontidæ_ | | -- | -- | |

11. Dendrophidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian,

| | | | | Neotropical

12. Dryiophidæ | | -- | | -- |Oriental, Neotropical

13. Dipsadidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental, Australian,

| | | | | Neotropical

15. Lycodontidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental

17. Pythonidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All tropical regions

18. Erycidæ | | -- | | |Oriental, S. Palæarctic

20. Elapidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Tropical regions, S. U. States

| | | | | and Japan

21. _Dendraspididæ_ | -- | -- | | |

22. _Atractaspididæ_ | | -- | -- | |

23. Hydrophidæ | | | | -- |Oriental, Australian, Panama

25. Viperidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Palæarctic

| | | | |

LACERTILIA. | | | | |

28. Amphisbænidæ | -- | -- | | |S. Europe, Neotropical

29. Lepidosternidæ | | -- | -- | |N. America

30. Varanidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Warm parts of E. Hemisphere

33. Lacertidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All continents but America

34. Zonuridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All America, N. India,

| | | | | S. Europe

40. _Chamæsauridæ_ | | | -- | |

41. Gymnopthalmidæ | | -- | | -- |Palæarctic, Australian,

| | | | | Neotropical

45. Scincidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost Cosmopolite

47. Sepidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |South

48. Acontiadæ | | -- | -- | -- |Ceylon and Moluccas

49. Geckotidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost cosmopolite

51. Agamidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Australian,

| | | | | S. Palæarctic

52. Chamæleonidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, S. Palæarctic

| | | | |

CROCODILIA. | | | | |

55. Crocodilidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Neotropical

| | | | |

CHELONIA. | | | | |

57. Testudinidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All continents but Australia

58. Chelydidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Australia, S. America

59. Trionychidæ | -- | -- | -- | |Oriental, Japan, E. United

| | | | | States

60. Cheloniidæ | | | | |Marine

| | | | |

AMPHIBIA. | | | | |

PSEUDOPHIDIA. | | | | |

1. Cæciliadæ | | -- | | |Oriental, Neotropical

| | | | |

ANOURA. | | | | |

7. Phryniscidæ | -- | -- | | |Neotropical, Australia, Java

9. Bufonidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Australian

11. Engystomidæ | | -- | -- | |All regions but Palæarctic

14. Alytidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Oriental

17. Polypedatidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All the regions

18. Ranidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Almost Cosmopolite

19. Discoglossidæ | | -- | -- | |All regions but Nearctic

21. _Dactylethridæ_ | -- | -- | -- | |

| | | | |

FISHES (FRESH-WATER).| | | | |

ACANTHOPTERYGII. | | | | |

3. Percidæ | -- | | | |All regions but Australian

12. Scienidæ | -- | -- | -- | |All regions but Australian

35. Labyrinthici | | | -- | -- |Oriental, Moluccas

38. Mugillidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Australian, Neotropical

52. Chromidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Oriental, Neotropical

| | | | |

PHYSOSTOMI. | | | | |

59. Siluridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All warm regions

60. Characinidæ | -- | -- | | |Neotropical

68. _Mormyridæ_ | -- | -- | | |

69. _Gymnarchidæ_ | -- | -- | | |

73. Cyprinodontidæ | -- | -- | | -- |Palæarctic, Oriental, American

75. Cyprinidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Absent from Australia and

| | | | | S. America

78. Osteoglossidæ | -- | -- | | |All tropical regions

82. Notopteridæ | | -- | | |Oriental

| | | | |

GANOIDEI. | | | | |

92. Sirenoidei | -- | -- | | |Neotropical, Australian

94. _Polypteridæ_ | -- | -- | | |

| | | | |

INSECTS. | | | | |

LEPIDOPTERA (PART). | | | | |

DIURNI (BUTTERFLIES).| | | | |

1. Danaidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All warm countries and Canada

2. Satyridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

3. Elymniidæ | | -- | | |Oriental, Moluccas

6. Acræidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |All tropical regions

8. Nymphalidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

9. Libytheidæ | | -- | | -- |Absent from Australia only

10. Nemeobiidæ | | -- | | -- |Absent from Australia and

| | | | | Nearctic region

13. Lycænidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

14. Pieridæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

15. Papilionidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

16. Hesperidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

| | | | |

SPHINGIDEA. | | | | |

17. Zygænidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

19. Agaristidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Australian, Oriental

20. Uraniidæ | | | | -- |All tropical regions

22. Ægeriidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite, excl. Australia

23. Sphingidæ | -- | -- | -- | -- |Cosmopolite

---------------------+----+----+----+----+-------------------------------

{300}TABLE II.

_LIST OF GENERA OF TERRESTRIAL MAMMALIA AND BIRDS INHABITING THE ETHIOPIAN

REGION._

EXPLANATION.

Names in _italics_ show genera peculiar to the region.

Names inclosed thus (......) show genera which just enter the region, but

are not considered properly to belong to it.

Genera which undoubtedly belong to the region are numbered consecutively.

_MAMMALIA._

-------------------+-------+----------------------+----------------------

Order, Family, and | No. of| Range within | Range beyond

Genus. |Species| the Region. | the Region.

-------------------+-------+----------------------+----------------------

| | |

PRIMATES. | | |

SIMIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

1. _Troglodytes_ | 2 |W. Africa to Western |

| | Nile Sources |

| | |

SEMNOPITHECIDÆ. | | |

2. _Colobus_ | 11 |Abyssinia to West |

| | Africa |

| | |

CYNOPITHECIDÆ. | | |

| | |

3. _Myiopithecus_ | 1 |West Africa |

4. _Cercopithecus_| 24 |Tropical Africa |

5. _Cercocebus_ | 5 |West Africa |

6. _Theropithecus_| 2 |North-east Africa, |Palestine

| | Arabia |

7. _Cynocephalus_ | 10 |Nubia to Cape, |

| | W. Africa, Arabia |

| | |

(Sub-Order) | | |

_LEMUROIDEA._ | | |

LEMURIDÆ. | | |

| | |

8. _Indris_ | 6 |Madagascar |

9. _Lemur_ | 15 |Madagascar |

10. _Hapalemur_ | 2 |Madagascar |

11. _Microcebus_ | 4 |Madagascar |

12. _Chirogaleus_ | 5 |Madagascar |

13. _Lepilemur_ | 2 |Madagascar |

14. _Perodicticus_ | 1 |Sierra Leone |

15. _Arctocebus_ | 1 |Old Calabar |

16. _Galago_ | 14 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

CHIROMYIDÆ. | | |

| | |

17. _Chiromys_ | 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

CHIROPTERA. | | |

PTEROPIDÆ. | | |

| | |

18. Pteropus | 7 |Africa and Madagascar |Tropics of Eastern

| | | Hemisphere

19. Xantharpya | 1 |All Africa |Oriental, Austro-

| | | Malayan

20. Cynopterus | 1 |Tropical Africa |Oriental

21. _Epomophorus_ | 6 |Tropical Africa and |

| | Abyssinia |

22. _Hypsignathus_ | 1 |W. Africa |

| | |

RHINOLOPHIDÆ. | | |

| | |

23. Rhinolophus | 6 |Africa and Madagascar |Warmer parts of

| | | Eastern Hemisphere

24. _Macronycterys_| 1 |W. Africa |

25. Phyllorhina | 4 |Tropical Africa |Indo-Malaya, Austro-

| | | Malaya

26. Asellia | 1 |Nubia |Indo-Malaya, Austro-

| | | Malaya

27. Megaderma | 1 |Senegal, Upper Nile |Oriental, Moluccas

28. Nycteris | 3 |All Africa |Java

| | |

VESPERTILIONIDÆ. | | |

| | |

29. Vespertilio | 14 |Africa and Madagascar |Cosmopolite

30. Kerivoula | 1 |S. Africa |Oriental

31. Miniopteris | 1 |S. Africa |Indo-Malaya

32. Nycticejus | 7 |Tropical Africa |India

33. Taphozous | 2 |Africa and Madagascar |Oriental, Austro-

| | | Malayan, Neotropical

| | |

NOCTILIONIDÆ. | | |

| | |

34. Nyctinomus | 1 |Madagascar |Oriental, American,

| | | S. Palæarctic

35. Molossus | 3 |Africa, Bourbon |Neotropical,

| | | S. Palæarctic

| | |

INSECTIVORA. | | |

MACROSCELIDIDÆ. | | |

| | |

36. _Macroscelides_| 2 |South and East Africa |N. Africa

37. _Petrodromus_ | 1 |Mozambique |

38. _Rhynchocyon_ | 1 |Mozambique |

| | |

ERINACEIDÆ. | | |

| | |

39. Erinaceus | 2 |Cen. and South Africa |Palæarctic, N. India

| | |

CENTETIDÆ. | | |

| | |

40. _Centetes_ | 2 |Madagascar and |

| | Mauritius |

41. _Hemicentetes_ | 2 |Madagascar |

42. _Ericulus_ | 2 |Madagascar |

43. _Oryzorictes_ | 1 |Madagascar |

44. _Echinops_ | 3 |Madagascar |

| | |

POTAMOGALIDÆ. | | |

| | |

45. _Potamogale_ | 1 |Old Calabar |

| | |

CHRYSOCHLORIDÆ. | | |

| | |

46. _Chrysochloris_| 3 |Cape to Mozambique |

| | |

SORICIDÆ. | | |

| | |

47. Sorex | 15 |All Africa and |Palæarc., Nearc., Ori

| | Madagascar |

| | |

CARNIVORA. | | |

FELIDÆ. | | |

| | |

48. Felis | 8 |All Africa |All reg. but

| | | Australian

49. Lynx[?] | 1 |N. and S. Africa |Palæarctic and

| | | Nearctic

50. Cynælurus | 1 |Cape of Good Hope |

| | |

CRYPTOPROCTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

51. _Cryptoprocta_ | 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

VIVERRIDÆ. | | |

| | |

52. Viverra | 1 |Tropical Africa |Oriental

53. Genetta | 4 |Tropical and S. Africa |S. Palæarctic

54. _Fossa_ | 2 |Madagascar |

55. _Poiana_ | 1 |W. Africa |

56. _Galidia_ | 3 |Madagascar |

57. _Nandinia_ | 1 |W. Africa |

58. _Galidictis_ | 2 |Madagascar |

59. Herpestes | 13 |All Africa |S. Europe, Oriental

60. _Athylax_ | 3 |S. and E. Africa(?) |

| | Madagascar |

61. Calogale | 9 |Tropical and S. Africa |Oriental

62. _Galerella_ | 1 |E. Africa |

63. _Ariela_ | 1 |S. Africa |

64. _Ichneumia_ | 4 |E. Africa, Senegal, |

| | S. Africa |

65. _Bdeogale_ | 3 |Tropical Africa |

66. _Helogale_ | 2 |E. and S. Africa |

67. _Cynictis_ | 3 |S. Africa |

68. _Rhinogale_ | 1 |E. Africa |

69. _Mungos_ | 3 |Tropical and S. Africa |

70. _Crossarchus_ | 1 |Tropical Africa |

71. _Eupleres_ | 1 |Madagascar |

72. _Suricata_ | 1 |S. Africa |

| | |

PROTELIDÆ. | | |

| | |

73. _Proteles_ | 1 |S. Africa |

| | |

HYÆNIDÆ. | | |

| | |

74. Hyæna | 3 |All Africa |S. Palæarctic, India

| | |

CANIDÆ. | | |

| | |

75. _Lycaon_ | 1 |S., Central, and |

| | E. Africa |

76. Canis | 5 |All Africa |Almost Cosmopolitan

77. _Megalotis_ | 1 |S. Africa |

| | |

MUSTELIDÆ. | | |

| | |

78. Mustela | 1 |Angola |Palæarctic, Nearctic

79. Gymnopus[?] | 1 |S. Africa |Oriental

80. Aonyx | 1 |S. and W. Africa |Oriental

81. _Hydrogale_ | 1 |S. Africa |

82. Mellivora | 2 |South and Tropical |India

| | Africa |

83. _Ictonyx_ | 2 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

OTARIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

84. Arctocephalus | 1 |Cape of Good Hope |South Temperate Zone

| | |

SIRENIA. | | |

MANATIDÆ. | | |

| | |

85. Manatus | 1 |W. Africa |Tropical America

86. Halicore | 1 |E. Africa |Oriental and

| | | Australian

| | |

UNGULATA. | | |

EQUIDÆ. | | |

| | |

87. Equus | 3 |Tropical and S. Africa |Palæarctic

| | |

RHINOCEROTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

88. Rhinoceros | 4 |All Tropical and |Oriental

| | S. Africa |

| | |

HIPPOPOTAMIDÆ. | | |

| | |

89. _Hippopotamus_ | 2 |Great Rivers of Africa |

| | |

SUIDÆ. | | |

| | |

90. _Potamochoerus_| 3 |Tropical Africa and |

| | Madg. |

91. _Phacochoerus_ | 2 |Abyssinia to Caffraria |

| | |

TRAGULIDÆ. | | |

| | |

92. _Hyomoschus_ | 1 |W. Africa |

| | |

CAMELOPARDALIDÆ. | | |

| | |

93._Camelopardalis_| 1 |All open country |

| | |

BOVIDÆ. | | |

| | |

94. Bubalus | 3 |Trop. and S. Africa |India

95. _Oreas_ | 2 |Africa S. of Sahara |

96. _Tragelaphus_ | 8 |Africa S. of Sahara |

97. Oryx | 3 |Arabian and African |S. Palæarctic

| | deserts |

98. Gazella | 12 |Africa N. of Equator |Palæarctic Deserts

| | and S. Africa |

99. _Æpyceros_ | 1 |S. E. Africa |

100. _Cervicapra_ | 4 |All Tropical Africa |

101. _Kobus_ | 6 |Pastures of all Africa |

102. _Pelea_ | 1 |South Africa |

103. _Nanotragus_ | 9 |Africa S. of Sahara |

104. _Neotragus_ | 1 |Abyssinia and |

| | N. E. Africa |

105. _Cephalophus_ | 22 |All tropical Africa |

106. _Hippotragus_ | 3 |Gambia, Central Africa |

| | to Cape |

107. _Alcephalus_ | 9 |All Africa |

108. _Catoblepas_ | 2 |Africa S. of Equator |

(Capra | 1 |Abyssinia, high) |Palæarctic genus

| | |

PROBOSCIDEA. | | |

| | |

ELEPHANTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

109. Elephas | 1 |Tropical and S. Africa |Oriental

| | |

HYRACOIDEA. | | |

HYRACIDÆ. | | |

| | |

110. Hyrax | 10 |Tropical and S. Africa |Syria

| | |

RODENTIA. | | |

MURIDÆ. | | |

| | |

111. Mus | 26 |All Africa |E. Hemis. excl.

| | | Oceania

112. _Lasiomys_ | 1 |W. Africa |

113. Acanthomys | 4 |Tropical Africa |India

114. _Cricetomys_ | 1 |Tropical Africa |

115. _Saccostomus_ | 2 |Mozambique |

116. _Dendromys_ | 2 |S. Africa |

117. _Nesomys_ | 1 |Madagascar |

118. _Steatomys_ | 2 |East and S. Africa |

119. _Pelomys_ | 1 |Mozambique |

120. _Otomys_ | 6 |S. and E. Africa |

121. Meriones | 14 |Africa |Palæarctic, India

122. _Malacothrix_ | 2 |S. Africa |

123. _Mystromys_ | 1 |S. Africa |

124._Brachytarsomys_| 1 |Madagascar |

125. _Hypogeomys_ | 1 |Madagascar |

126. _Lophiomys_ | 1 |S. Arabia and |

| | N. E. Africa |

| | |

SPALACIDÆ. | | |

| | |

127. Rhizomys | 4 |Abyssinia |Oriental to Malacca

128. _Bathyerges_ | 1 |S. Africa |

129. _Georychus_ | 6 |E. Central, and |

| | S. Africa |

130. _Heliophobius_ | 1 |Mozambique |

| | |

DIPODIDÆ. | | |

| | |

131. Dipus | 7 |N. and Central Africa |Central Palæarctic

132. _Pedetes_ | 1 |S. Af. to Mozambique |

| | and Angola |

| | |

MYOXIDÆ. | | |

| | |

133. Myoxus | 1 |Africa to Cape |Palæarctic

| | |

SCIURIDÆ. | | |

| | |

134. Sciurus | 18 |All woody districts of |All regions but

| | Africa | Australia

135. _Anomalurus_ | 5 |W. Africa and Fernando |

| | Po. |

| | |

OCTODONTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

136. _Pectinator_ | 1 |Abyssinia |

| | |

ECHIMYIDÆ. | | |

| | |

137. _Petromys_ | 1 |S. Africa |

138. _Aulacodes_ | 1 |W., E., and S. Africa |

| | |

HYSTRICIDÆ. | | |

| | |

139. Hystrix | 1 |Africa to Cape |S. Palæarctic Oriental

140. Atherura | 1 |W. Africa |Palæarctic

| | |

LEPORIDÆ. | | |

| | |

141. Lepus | 5 |East and South Africa |All regions but

| | | Australian

| | |

EDENTATA. | | |

MANIDIDÆ. | | |

| | |

142. Manis | 4 |Sennaar to W. Africa |Oriental

| | and Cape |

| | |

ORYCTEROPODIDÆ. | | |

| | |

143. _Orycteropus_ | 2 |N. E. Africa to Nile |

| | Sources, and S. Africa|

_BIRDS._

PASSERES. | | |

TURDIDÆ. | | |

| | |

1. Turdus | 13 |The whole reg. (excl. |Almost Cosmopolite

| | Madagas.) |

2. Monticola | 2 |S. Africa |Palæarctic and

| | | Oriental

3. _Chætops_ | 3 |S. Africa |

4. _Bessonornis_ | 15 |The whole region |Palestine

| | |

SYLVIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

5. { _Drymoeca_ | 70 |The whole region |Palestine

6. { Cisticola | 13 |The whole region |Palæarc., Orien.,

{ | | | Austral.

7. { Sphenoeacus | 1 |S. Africa |Australian

8. { _Camaroptera_| 5 |Africa |

| | |

9. { Acrocephalus | 8 |The whole region |Palæarc., Orien.,

{ | | | Austral.

10. { Bradyptetus | 8 |Abyssinia and S. Africa|S. Europe, Palestine

11. { _Catriscus_ | 3 |All Africa |

12. { _Bernieria_ | 1 |Madagascar |

13. { _Ellisia_ | 1 |Madagascar |

14. { _Mystacornis_| 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

15. { Phylloscopus | 1 |S. Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental

16. { _Eremomela_ | 16 |All Africa |

17. { _Eroessa_ | 1 |Madagascar |

18. { Hypolais | 2 |S. Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental

| | |

19. { Aedon | 8 |E. and S. Africa |Palæarctic

20. { Sylvia | 3 |N. E. Africa, Gambia, |Palæarctic, Oriental

{ | | Cape Verd Ids. |

21. { Curruca | 2 |S. Africa |Palæarctic

| | |

22. { Ruticilla | 2 |Abyssinia and Senegal |Palæarctic, Oriental

23. { Cyanecula | 2 |N. E. Africa |Palæarctic

| | |

24. { Copsychus | 2 |Madagascar and |Oriental

{ | | Seychelle Ids. |

25. { Thamnobia | 7 |All Africa |Oriental

26. {_Cercotrichas_| 2 |W. and N. E. Africa |

27. { _Poeoptera_ | 1 |W. Africa |

28. { _Gervasia_ | 2 |Madagascar and |

{ | | Seychelle Ids. |

29. { Dromolæa | 13 |All Africa |S. Palæarctic, India

30. { Saxicola | 14 |Central, E. and |Palæarctic, India

{ | | S. Africa |

31. { Cercomela | 3 |N. E. Africa |Palestine, N. W. India

32. { Pratincola | 7 |Africa and Madagascar |Palæarctic, Oriental

| | |

TIMALIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

33. Chatarrhæa | 1 |Abyssinia |Oriental, Palestine

34. _Crateropus_ | 17 |All Africa |N. Africa, Persia

35. _Hypergerus_ | 1 |W. Africa |

36. _Cichladusa_ | 3 |W. and E. Africa |

37. _Alethe_ | 4 |W. Africa |

38. _Oxylabes_ | 2 |Madagascar |

| | |

CINCLIDÆ.[?] | | |

| | |

39. _Mesites_ | 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

TROGLODYTIDÆ.[?] | | |

| | |

40. Sylvietta | 2 |Central, E. and |

| | S. Africa |

| | |

SITTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

41. _Hypherpes_ | 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

PARIDÆ. | | |

| | |

42. Parus | 5 |All Africa |Palæarc., Orien.,

| | | Nearc.

43. _Parisoma_ | 5 |All Africa |

44. Ægithalus | 4 |W., Central, and |Palæarctic

| | S. Africa |

45. _Parinia_ | 1 |W. Africa, Prince's |

| | Island |

| | |

PYCNONOTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

46. Pycnonotus | 8 |All Africa |S. Palæarctic,

| | | Oriental

47._Phyllastrephus_| 4 |W. and S. Africa |

48. Hypsipetes | 4 |Madagascar and |Oriental

| | Mascarene Ids. |

49. _Tylas_ | 1 |Madagascar |

50. Criniger | 14 |W. and S. Africa |Oriental

51. _Ixonotus_ | 8 |W. Africa |

52. _Andropadus_ | 9 |Africa and Madagascar |

53. _Lioptilus_ | 1 |S. Africa |

| | |

ORIOLIDÆ. | | |

| | |

54. Oriolus | 10 |All Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental

55. _Artamia_[?] | 3 |Madagascar |

56._Cyanolanius_[?]| 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

CAMPEPHAGIDÆ. | | |

| | |

57. _Lanicterus_ | 5 |All Africa |

58. _Oxynotus_ | 2 |Mauritius and Bourbon |

59. Campephaga | 5 |The whole region |Celebes to New

| | | Caledonia

| | |

DICRURIDÆ. | | |

| | |

60. Dicrurus | 11 |The whole region |Oriental, Australian

| | |

MUSCICAPIDÆ. | | |

| | |

61. Butalis | 3 |All Africa |Palæarctic,

| | | N. Oriental

62. Muscicapa | 10 |All tropical Africa |Palæarctic

63. Alseonax | 4 |S. Africa |Oriental

64. _Newtonia_ | 1 |Madagascar |

65. _Hyliota_ | 2 |W. Africa |

66. _Erythrocercus_| 2 |Tropical Africa |

67. _Artomyias_ | 2 |W. Africa |

68. _Pseudobias_ | 1 |Madagascar |

69. _Smithorius_ | 2 |W. and S. Africa |

70. _Megabias_ | 1 |W. Africa |

71. _Cassinia_ | 2 |W. Africa |

72. _Bias_ | 1 |Tropical Africa |

73. _Elminia_ | 2 |Tropical Africa |

74. _Platystira_ | 12 |All Africa |

75. Tchitrea | 18 |The whole region |Oriental

76. _Pogonocichla_ | 1 |S. Africa |

77. _Bradyornis_ | 7 |All Africa |

| | |

LANIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

78. _Parmoptila_[?]| 1 |W. Africa. |

79. _Calicalicus_ | 1 |Madagascar |

80. Lanius | 15 |All Africa |Palæarc., Orien.,

| | | Nearc.

81. _Hypocolius_ | 1 |Abyssinia |

82. _Corvinella_ | 1 |S. and W. Africa |

83. _Urolestes_ | 1 |S. Africa |

84. _Fraseria_ | 2 |W. Africa |

85. _Hypodes_ | 1 |W. Africa |

86. _Cuphoterus _ | 1 |Prince's Island |

87. _Nilaus_ | 1 |All Africa |

88. _Prionops_ | 9 |All Africa |

89. _Eurocephalus_ | 2 |N. E. and S. Africa |

90. _Chaunonotus_ | 1 |W. Africa |

91. _Vanga_ | 4 |Madagascar |

92. _Laniarius_ | 38 |All Africa, |

| | Madagascar[?] |

93. _Meristes_ | 2 |W. and S. E. Africa |

94. _Nicator_ | 1 |E. Africa |

95. _Telephonus_ | 10 |All Africa |N. Africa

| | |

CORVIDÆ. | | |

| | |

96. _Ptilostomus_ | 2 |W. and E. Africa |

97. Corvus | 7 |All Africa and |Cosmop., excl.

| | Madagascar | S. Amer.

98. _Corvultur_ | 2 |N. E. to S. Africa |

99. _Picathartes_ | |W. Africa |

(Fregilus | 1 |Abyssinia) |Palæarctic genus

| | |

NECTARINIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

100. _Nectarinia_ | 55 |The whole region |

101. _Promerops_ | 1 |S. Africa |

102._Cinnyricinclus_| 4 |W. Africa |

103. _Neodrepanis_ | 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

DICÆIDÆ. | | |

| | |

104. Zosterops | 23 |The whole region |Oriental and

| | | Australian

105. _Pholidornis_ | 1 |W. Africa |

| | |

HIRUNDINIDÆ. | | |

| | |

106. Hirundo | 17 |The whole region |Cosmopolite

107. _Psalidoprogne_| 10 |The whole region |

108. _Phedina_ | 2 |Madagascar and |

| | Mauritius |

109. Petrochelidon | 1 |S. Africa |Neotropical

110. Chelidon | 1 |Bogos-land |Palæarctic, Oriental

111. Cotyle | 6 |All Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental

112. _Waldenia_ | 1 |W. Africa |

| | |

FRINGILLIDÆ. | | |

| | |

113. Dryospiza | 8 |All Africa |S. Palæarctic

114. Chlorospiza | 4 |Abyssinia to Cape |Palæarctic

115. Passer | 18 |All Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental

116. _Crithagra_ | 12 |All Africa |N. Africa, Syria

117. _Ligurnus_ | 2 |W. Africa |

(Erythrospiza | 1 |Nubia, Arabia) |S. Palæarctic genus

118. Pinicola[?] | 1 |Cameroons, W. Africa |N. Temperate genus

119. _Fringillaria_ | 9 |All Africa |South Palæarctic

| | |

PLOCEIDÆ. | | |

| | |

120. _Textor_ | 5 |All Africa |

121. _Hyphantornis_ | 32 |Tropical and S. Africa |

122. _Symplectes_ | 8 |Tropical and S. Africa |

123. _Malimbus_ | 9 |W. and E. Africa |

124. Ploceus | 2 |W. and E. Africa |Oriental

125. _Nelicurvius_ | 1 |Madagascar |

126. _Foudia_ | 11 |Tropical Africa, |

| | Madagascar, &c. |

127. _Sporopipes_ | 1 |Tropical and S. Africa |

128. _Pyromelana_ | 12 |Tropical and S. Africa |

129. _Philetærus_ | 1 |S. Africa |

130. _Nigrita_ | 7 |W. and N. E. Africa |

131. _Plocepasser_ | 4 |E. and S. Africa |

132. _Vidua_ | 6 |Tropical and S. Africa |

133. _Colliuspasser_| 9 |Tropical and S. Africa |

134. _Chera_ | 1 |S. Africa |

135. _Spermospiza_ | 2 |W. Africa |

136. _Pyrenestes_ | 6 |Tropical and S. Africa |

137. Estrilda | 16 |Tropical and S. Africa |Oriental

138. _Pytelia_ | 20 |Tropical and S. Africa |

139. _Hypargos_ | 2 |E. Africa, Madagascar |

140. _Amadina_ | 6 |Tropical and S. Africa |

141. _Spermestes_ | 7 |The whole region |

142. _Amauresthes_ | 1 |E. and W. Africa |

143. _Hypochera_ | 2 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

STURNIDÆ. | | |

| | |

144. _Dilophus_ | 1 |S. Africa, Loanda, |

| | Sennaar |

145. _Buphaga_ | 2 |Trop. and S. Africa |

| | ([?] a family) |

146. _Euryceros_ | 1 |Madagascar ([?] a |

| | family) |

147. _Juida_ | 5 |Tropical and S. Africa |

148. _Lamprocolius_ | 16 |Tropical and S. Africa |

149._Cinnyricinclus_| 2 |Tropical and S. Africa |

150. _Onychognathus_| 2 |W. Africa |

151. _Spreo_ | 5 |Tropical and S. Africa |

152. _Amydrus_ | 5 |N. E. Africa |Palestine

153. _Hartlaubius_ | 1 |Madagascar |

154. _Falculia_ | 1 |Madagascar |

155. _Fregilupus_ | 1 |Bourbon |

| | |

ALAUDIDÆ. | | |

| | |

156. Alauda | 3 |Abyssinia and |Palæarctic, Indian

| | S. W. Africa |

157. _Spizocorys_ | 1 |South Africa |

158. Galerida | 4 |North of tropical |Palæarctic, Indian

| | Africa |

159. _Calendula_ | 2 |Abyssinia, S. Africa |

(Melanocorypha | 1 |Abyssinia) |Palæarctic genus

160. Certhilauda | 3 |South Africa |S. Europe

161. Alaemon | 3 |South Africa |S. Palæarctic

162. _Heterocorys_ | 1 |South Africa |

163. Mirafra | 10 |South Africa, |Oriental, Australian

| | Madagascar |

164. Ammomanes | 4 |African deserts |S. Palæarctic, Indian

165. _Megalophonus_ | 5 |Tropical and S. Africa |

166. _Tephrocorys_ | 2 |S. Africa |

167. Pyrrhulauda | 6 |Tropical and S. Africa |Oriental, Canary

| | | Islands

| | |

MOTACILLIDÆ. | | |

| | |

168. Budytes | 8 |The whole region |Palæarctic, Oriental,

| | |Australian

| | |

169. Anthus | 10 |Tropical and S. Africa |All regions, exc.

| | | Australia

170. _Macronyx_ | 4 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

PITTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

171. Pitta | 1 |W. Africa |Oriental, Australian

| | |

PAICTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

172. _Philepitta_ | 2 |Madagascar |

| | |

PICARIÆ. | | |

| | |

PICIDÆ. | | |

| | |

173. _Verreauxia_ | 1 |W. Africa |

174. _Dendropicus_ | 14 |Tropical and S. Africa |

175. _Campethera_ | 14 |Tropical and S. Africa |

176. _Geocolaptes_ | 1 |South Africa |

| | |

YUNGIDÆ. | | |

| | |

177. Yunx | 1 |N. E. Africa, S. Africa|Palæarctic

| | |

INDICATORIDÆ. | | |

| | |

178. Indicator | 8 |Tropical and S. Africa |Oriental

| | |

MEGALÆMIDÆ. | | |

| | |

179._Pogonorhynchus_| 14 |Tropical and S. Africa |

180. _Buccanodon_ | 1 |West Africa |

181. _Stactolæma_ | 1 |West Africa |

182. _Barbatula_ | 9 |West and South Africa |

183. _Xylobucco_ | 3 |West and South Africa |

184. _Gymnobucco_ | 3 |West Africa |

185. _Trachyphonus_ | 6 |Tropical and South |

| | Africa |

| | |

MUSOPHAGIDÆ. | | |

| | |

186. _Musophaga_ | 2 |West Africa |

187. _Turacus_ | 10 |Tropical and S. Africa |

188. _Schizorhis_ | 6 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

COLIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

189. _Colius_ | 7 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

CUCULIDÆ. | | |

| | |

190. _Ceuthmochares_| 2 |Africa and Madagascar |

191. _Coua_ | 9 |Madagascar |

192._Cochlothraustes_ 1 |Madagascar |

193. _Centropus_ | 8 |Africa and Madagascar |Oriental, Australian

194. Cuculus | 10 |Africa and Madagascar |Palæarc., Orien.,

| | | Austral.

195. Chrysococcyx | 7 |Tropical and S. Africa |Oriental, Australian

196. Coccystes | 6 |Tropical and S. Africa |S. Palæarctic,

| | | Oriental

| | |

LEPTOSOMIDÆ. | | |

| | |

197. _Leptosomus_ | 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

CORACIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

198. Coracias | 5 |Africa and Madagascar |S. Palæarctic,

| | | Oriental

199. Eurystomus | 3 |Africa and Madagascar |Oriental, Australian

200. _Atelornis_ | 2 |Madagascar |

201._Brachypteracias_ 1 |Madagascar |

202. _Geobiastes_ | 1 |Madagascar |

| | |

MEROPIDÆ. | | |

| | |

203. Merops | 11 |Africa and Madagascar |S. Palæar., Orien.,

| | | Austral.

204. _Melittophagus_| 5 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

TROGONIDÆ. | | |

| | |

205. _Apaloderma_ | 2 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

ALCEDINIDÆ. | | |

| | |

206. Alcedo | 2 |W. Africa, Abyssinia, |Palæar., Orien.,

| | Natal | Austral.

207. _Corythornis_ | 3 |Africa and Madagascar |

208. Ceryle | 1 |W. Africa, Abyssinia, |American, Palæarctic

| | Natal |

209. _Myioceyx_ | 2 |West Africa |

210. _Ispidina_ | 4 |Africa and Madagascar |

211. Halcyon | 10 |Africa, Prince's Is., |S. Palæar., Orien.,

| | St. Thomé | Austral.

| | |

BUCEROTIDÆ. | | |

| | |

212. Berenicornis | 1 |West Africa |Malaya

213. _Tockus_ | 12 |Tropical and S. Africa |

214. _Bycanistes_ | 6 |Tropical and S. Africa |

215. _Bucoreus_ | 2 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

UPUPIDÆ. | | |

| | |

216. Upupa | 3 |Africa and Madagascar |S. Palæarctic,

| | | Oriental

| | |

IRRISORIDÆ. | | |

| | |

217. _Irrisor_ | 12 |Africa and Madagascar |

| | |

CAPRIMULGIDÆ. | | |

| | |

218. Caprimulgus | 18 |Africa and Madagascar |Palæarc., Orien.,

| | | Austral.

219. _Scortornis_ | 3 |Tropical Africa |

220. _Macrodipteryx_| 2 |W. Africa to Abyssinia |

221. _Cosmetornis_ | 1 |Tropical Africa to the |

| | Zambesi |

| | |

CYPSELIDÆ. | | |

| | |

222. Cypselus | 6 |The whole region |Palæarctic, Oriental

223. Collocalia | 1 |Mascarene Ids., |Oriental, Australian

| | Madagascar |

224. Chætura | 4 |Tropical Africa and |Cosmop., exc.

| | Madagascar | W. Palæarctic

| | |

PSITTACI. | | |

PALÆORNITHIDÆ. | | |

| | |

225. Palæornis | 3 |W. Africa to Abys. & |Oriental

| | Mauritius |

| | |

PSITTACIDÆ. | | |

| | |

226. _Coracopsis_ | 5 |Madagascar and |

| | Seychelle Ids. |

227. _Psittacus_ | 2 |W. Africa |

228. _Poeocephalus_ | 9 |Tropical and S. Africa |

229. _Agapornis_ | 4 |Tropical and S. Africa |

230. _Poliopsitta_ | 2 |Trop. Africa and |

| | Madagascar |

| | |

COLUMBÆ. | | |

COLUMBIDÆ. | | |

| | |

231. Treron | 6 |Africa and Madagascar |Oriental

232. _Alectrænas_ | 5 |Madagascar and Masc. |

| | Ids. (extct. in |

| | Mauritius and |

| | Rodriguez) |

233. Columba | 12 |Africa and Madagascar |Palæarctic, Oriental

234. _Oena_ | 1 |Tropical and S. Africa |

235. Turtur | 10 |Africa, Madagascar, |Palæarctic, Oriental

| | Comoro and Seychelle |

| | Islands |

236. _Aplopelia_ | 4 |Abyssinia, S. Africa |

| | and West African |

| | Islands |

237. _Chalcopelia_ | 3 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

DIDIDÆ. (extinct) | | |

| | |

238. _Didus_ | 5 |Mascarene Islands |

| | |

GALLINÆ. | | |

PTEROCLIDÆ. | | |

| | |

239. Pterocles | 9 |Africa and Madagascar |S. Palæarctic, Indian

| | |

TETRAONIDÆ. | | |

| | |

240. _Ptilopachus_ | 1 |West Africa |

241. Francolinus | 30 |Africa and Madagascar |S. Palæarctic, Indian

242. _Peliperdix_ | 1 |West Africa |

243. _Margaroperdix_| 1 |Madagascar |

244. Coturnix | 2 |Tropical and S. Africa |Palæar., Orient.,

| | | Austral.

(Caccabis | 1 |Abyssinia) |Palæarctic genus

| | |

PHASIANIDÆ. | | |

| | |

245. _Phasidus_ | 1 |West Africa |

246. _Agelastes_ | 1 |West Africa |

247. _Acryllium_ | 1 |West Africa |

248. _Numida_ | 9 |Africa to Natal and |

| | Madagascar |

| | |

TURNICIDÆ. | | |

| | |

249. Turnix | 4 |S. Africa and |Palæarc., Orient.,

| | Madagascar | Austrl.

250. _Ortyxelos_ | 1 |Africa |

| | |

ACCIPITRES. | | |

VULTURIDÆ. | | |

| | |

251. Gyps | 2 |Africa, except W. |Palæarctic, Oriental

| | sub-region |

252. Pseudogyps | 1 |N. E. Africa to Senegal|Oriental

253. Otogyps | 1 |N. E. and S. Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental

254. _Lophogyps_ | 1 |N. E. and S. Africa and|

| | Senegal |

255. Neophron | 2 |Africa, excl. west |S. Palæarctic,

| | coast | Oriental

| | |

FALCONIDÆ. | | |

| | |

256. _Polyboroides_ | 2 |Africa and Madagascar |

257. Circus | 4 |Africa and Madagascar |Almost Cosmopolite

258. _Urotriorchis_ | 1 |W. Africa |

259. _Melierax_ | 5 |Africa, excl. west |

| | coast |

260. Astur | 5 |Africa and Madagascar |Almost Cosmopolite

261. _Nisoides_ | 1 |Madagascar |

262. _Eutriorchis_ | 1 |Madagascar |

263. Accipiter | 8 |Africa and Madagascar |Almost Cosmopolite

264. Buteo | 5 |Africa and Madagascar |Cosmop., excl.

| | | Austral.

265. Gypaëtus | 1 |N. E. and S. Africa |S. Palæarctic

266. Aquila | 5 |All Africa |Nearc., Palæarc.,

| | | Indian

267. Nisaëtus | 1 |W. Africa |S. Palæarctic,

| | | Oriental, Australia

268. Spizaëtus | 3 |All Africa |Neotropical, Oriental

| | | to N. Guinea

269. _Lophoætus_ | 1 |All Africa |

270. _Asturinula_ | 1 |Tropical Africa |

271. _Dryotriorchis_| 1 |W. Africa |

272. Circaëtus | 5 |All Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental

273. Butastur | 1 |N. E. Africa |Oriental to New Guinea

274. _Helotarsus_ | 2 |Tropical and S. Africa |

275. Haliæetus | 2 |The whole region |Cosmopolite, excl.

| | | Neotropical region

276. _Gypohierax_ | 1 |West and East Africa |

277. _Elanoides_ | 1 |West and N. E. Africa |

278. Milvus | 1 |The whole region |The Eastern Hemisphere

279. Elanus | 1 |Africa |India to Australia

280. Machærhamphus | 1 |S. W. Africa and |Malacca

| | Madagascar |

281. Pernis | 1 |S. Africa and |Palæarctic, Oriental

| | Madagascar |

282. Baza | 3 |Africa and Madagascar |India to N. Australia

283. Poliohierax | 1 |East Africa |Burmah

284. Falco | 4 |All Africa |Almost Cosmopolite

285. Cerchneis | 8 |The whole region |Almost Cosmopolite

| | |

SERPENTARIIDÆ. | | |

| | |

286. _Serpentarius_ | 1 |The greater part of |

| | Africa |

| | |

PANDIONIDÆ. | | |

| | |

287. Pandion | 1 |All Africa |Cosmopolite

| | |

STRIGIDÆ. | | |

| | |

288. Athene | 5 |Africa and Madagascar, |Palæarctic, Oriental,

| | Rodriquez (extinct) | Australian

289. Bubo | 8 |Africa and Madagascar |Cosmopolite

290. _Scotopelia_ | 2 |West and S. Africa to |

| | Zambesi |

291. Scops | 3 |W. and S. Africa, |Almost Cosmopolite

| | Madagascar, Comoro |

| | Islands |

292. Syrnium | 2 |Africa |Palæarctic, Oriental,

| | | American

293. Asio | 1 |N. E. and S. Africa |Cosmopolite

294. Strix | 4 |Africa and Madagascar |Cosmopolite

_Peculiar or very Characteristic Genera of Wading or Swimming Birds._

GRALLÆ. | | |

RALLIDÆ. | | |

| | |

_Himantornis_ | 1 |West Africa |

Podica | 3 |Africa |Burmah

| | |

GLAREOLIDÆ. | | |

| | |

Cursorius | 8 |All Africa |S. Europe, India

| | |

OTIDIDÆ. | | |

| | |

Eupodotis | 16 |All Africa |India, Australia

| | |

GRUIDÆ. | | |

| | |

_Balearica_ | 2 |All Africa |

| | |

ARDEIDÆ. | | |

| | |

_Balæniceps_ | 1 |Upper Nile |

| | |

PLATALEIDÆ. | | |

| | |

_Scopus_ | 1 |Tropical and S. Africa |

| | |

ANSERES. | | |

ANATIDÆ. | | |

| | |

_Thalassornis_| 1 |South Africa |

| | |

STRUTHIONES. | | |

STRUTHIONIDÆ. | | |

| | |

295. _Struthio_ | 2 |All Africa |Syria

| | |

ÆPYORNITHIDÆ. | |(Extinct) |

| | |

296. _Æpyornis_ | 3[?]|Madagascar |

{314}CHAPTER XII.

THE ORIENTAL REGION.

This region is of comparatively small extent, but it has a very diversified

surface, and is proportionately very rich. The deserts on the north-west of

India are the debatable land that separates it from the Palæarctic and

Ethiopian regions. The great triangular plateau which forms the peninsula

of India is the poorest portion of the region, owing in part to its arid

climate and in part to its isolated position; for there can be little doubt

that in the later Tertiary period it was an island, separated by an arm of

the sea (now forming the valleys of the Ganges and Indus) from the

luxuriant Himalayan and Burmese countries. Its southern extremity, with

Ceylon, has a moister climate and more luxuriant vegetation, and exhibits

indications of a former extension southwards, with a richer and more

peculiar fauna, partly Malayan and partly Mascarene in its character. The

whole southern slopes of the Himalayas, with Burmah, Siam and Western

China, as well as the Malay peninsula and the Indo-Malay islands, are

almost everywhere covered with tropical forests of the most luxuriant

character, which abound in varied and peculiar forms of vegetable and

animal life. The flora and fauna of this extensive district are essentially

of one type throughout; yet it may be usefully divided into the

Indo-Chinese and the Malayan sub-regions, as each possesses a number of

peculiar or characteristic animals. The former sub-region, besides having

many tropical and sub-tropical types of its own, also possesses a large

number of peculiarly modified temperate forms on the mountain ranges of its

northern boundary, which are wholly wanting in the Malayan sub-region. The

Philippine islands are best classed with the Indo-Malay group, although

they are strikingly deficient in many Malayan types, and exhibit an

approach to the Celebesian division of the Austro-Malay sub-region.

[Illustration: ORIENTAL REGION]

{315}_Zoological Characteristics of the Oriental Region._--The Oriental

Region possesses examples of 35 families of Mammalia, 71 of Birds, 35 of

Reptiles, 9 of Amphibia, and 13 of Fresh-water Fishes. Of these 163

families, 12 are peculiar to the region; namely, Tarsiidæ, Galeopithecidæ,

and Tupaiidæ among Mammalia, while Æluridæ, though confined to the higher

Himalayas, may perhaps with more justice be claimed by the Palæarctic

region; Liotrichidæ, Phyllornithidæ, and Eurylæmidæ among birds;

Xenopeltidæ (extending, however, to Celebes), Uropeltidæ, and Acrochordidæ

among reptiles; Luciocephalidæ, Ophiocephalidæ and Mastacembelidæ among

fresh-water fishes. A number of other families are abundant, and

characteristic of the region; and it possesses many peculiar and

characteristic genera, which must be referred to somewhat more in detail.

_Mammalia._--The Oriental region is rich in quadrumana, and is especially

remarkable for its orang-utans and long-armed apes (_Simia_, _Hylobates_,

and _Siamanga_); its abundance of monkeys of the genera _Presbytes_ and

_Macacus_; its extraordinary long-nosed monkey (_Presbytes nasalis_); its

Lemuridæ (_Nycticebus_ and _Loris_); and its curious genus _Tarsius_,

forming a distinct family of lemurs. All these quadrumanous genera are

confined to it, except _Tarsius_ which extends as far as Celebes. It

possesses more than 30 genera of bats, which are enumerated in the lists

given at the end of this chapter. In Insectivora it is very rich, and

possesses several remarkable forms, such as the flying lemur

(_Galeopithecus_); the squirrel-like Tupaiidæ consisting of three genera;

and the curious _Gymnura_ allied to the hedgehogs. In Carnivora, it is

especially rich in many forms of civets (Viverridæ), possessing 10 peculiar

genera, among which _Prionodon_ and _Cynogale_ are remarkable; numerous

Mustelidæ, of which _Gymnopus_, _Mydaus_, _Aonyx_ and _Helictis_ are the

most conspicuous; _Ælurus_, a curious animal, cat-like in appearance but

{316}more allied to the bears, forming a distinct family of Carnivora, and

confined to the high forest-districts of the Eastern Himalayas and East

Thibet; _Melursus_ and _Helarctos_, peculiar forms of bears; _Platanista_,

a dolphin peculiar to the Ganges and Indus. Among Ruminants it has the

beautiful chevrotain, forming the genus _Tragulus_ in the family Tragulidæ;

with one peculiar genus and three peculiar sub-genera of true deer. The

Antilopinæ and Caprinæ are few, confined to limited districts and not

characteristic of the region; but there are everywhere wild cattle of the

genera _Bibos_ and _Bubalus_, which, with species of _Rhinoceros_ and

_Elephas_, form a prominent feature in the fauna. The Rodents are less

developed than in the Ethiopian region, but several forms of squirrels

everywhere abound, together with some species of porcupine; and the

Edentata are represented by the scaly manis.

_Birds._--The families and genera of birds which give a character to

Oriental lands, are so numerous and varied, that we can here only notice

the more prominent and more remarkable. The Timaliidæ, represented by the

babblers (_Garrulax_, _Pomatorhinus_, _Timalia_, &c.), are almost

everywhere to be met with, and no less than 21 genera are peculiar to the

region; the elegant fork-tailed _Enicurus_ and rich blue _Myiophonus_,

though comparatively scarce, are characteristic of the Malayan and

Indo-Chinese faunas; the elegant little "hill-tits" (Liotrichidæ) abound in

the same part of the region; the green bulbuls (_Phyllornis_) are found

everywhere; as are various forms of Pycnonotidæ, the black and crimson

"minivets" (_Pericrocotus_), and the glossy "king-crows" (_Dicrurus_);

_Urocissa_, _Platylophus_ and _Dendrocitta_ are some of the interesting and

characteristic forms of the crow family; sun-birds (Nectariniidæ) of at

least three genera are found throughout the region, as are the beautiful

little flower-peckers (Dicæidæ), and some peculiar forms of weaver-birds

(_Ploceus_ and _Munia_). Of the starling family, the most conspicuous are

the glossy mynahs (_Eulabes_). The swallow-shrikes (_Artamus_) are very

peculiar, as are the exquisitely coloured pittas (Pittidæ), and the gaudy

broad-bills (Eurylæmidæ). Leaving the true Passeres, we find woodpeckers,

barbets, and cuckoos everywhere, often of peculiar and {317}remarkable

forms; among the bee-eaters we have the exquisite _Nyctiornis_ with its

pendent neck-plumes of blue or scarlet; brilliant kingfishers and strangely

formed hornbills abound everywhere; while brown-backed trogons with red and

orange breasts, though far less frequent, are equally a feature of the

Ornithology. Next we have the frog-mouthed goatsuckers (_Battrachostomus_),

and the whiskered swifts (_Dendrochelidon_), both wide-spread, remarkable,

and characteristic groups of the Oriental region. Coming to the parrot

tribe, we have only the long-tailed _Palæornis_ and the exquisite little

_Loriculus_, as characteristic genera. We now come to the pigeons, among

which the fruit-eating genera _Treron_ and _Carpophaga_ are the most

conspicuous. The gallinaceous birds offer us some grand forms, such as the

peacocks (_Pavo_); the argus pheasants (_Argusianus_); the fire-backed

pheasants (_Euplocamus_); and the jungle-fowl (_Gallus_), all strikingly

characteristic; and with these we may close our sketch, since the birds of

prey and the two Orders comprising the waders and swimmers offer nothing

sufficiently remarkable to be worthy of enumeration here.

_Reptiles._--Only the more abundant and characteristic groups will here be

noticed. In the serpent tribe, the Oligodontidæ, a small family of

ground-snakes; the Homalopsidæ, or fresh-water snakes; the Dendrophidæ, or

tree-snakes; the Dryiophidæ, or whip-snakes; the Dipsadidæ, or nocturnal

tree-snakes; the Lycodontidæ or fanged ground-snakes; the Pythonidæ, or

rock-snakes; the Elapidæ, or venomous colubrine snakes (including the

"cobras"); and the Crotalidæ, or pit-vipers, are all abundant and

characteristic, ranging over nearly the whole region, and presenting a

great variety of genera and species. Among lizards, the Varanidæ or

water-lizards; the Scincidæ or "scinks;" the Geckotidæ, or geckoes; and the

Agamidæ, or eastern iguanas; are the most universal and characteristic

groups. Among crocodiles the genus _Crocodilus_ is widely spread,

_Gavialis_ being characteristic of the Ganges. Among Chelonia, or shielded

reptiles, forms of fresh-water Testudinidæ and Trionychidæ (soft tortoises)

are tolerably abundant.

_Amphibia._--The only abundant and characteristic groups of {318}this class

are toads of the family Engystomidæ; tree-frogs of the family Polypedatidæ;

and several genera of true frogs, Ranidæ.

_Fresh-water Fishes._--The more remarkable and characteristic fishes

inhabiting the fresh waters of the Oriental region belong to the following

families: Nandidæ, Labyrinthici, Ophiocephalidæ, Siluridæ, and Cyprinidæ;

the last being specially abundant.

The sketch here very briefly given, must be supplemented by an examination

of the tables of distribution of the genera of all the Mammalia and Birds

inhabiting the region. We will now briefly summarize the results.

_Summary of the Oriental Vertebrata._--The Oriental region possesses

examples of 163 families of Vertebrata of which 12 are peculiar, a

proportion of a little more than one-fourteenth of the whole.

Out of 118 genera of Mammalia 54 seem to be peculiar to the region, equal

to a proportion of 9/20 or a little less than half. Of Land-Birds there are

342 genera of which 165 are peculiar, bringing the proportion very close to

a half.

In the Ethiopian region the proportion of peculiar forms both of Mammalia

and Birds is greater; a fact which is not surprising when we consider the

long continued isolation of the latter region--an isolation which is even

now very complete, owing to the vast extent of deserts intervening between

it and the Palæarctic region; while the Oriental and Palæarctic were,

during much of the Tertiary epoch, hardly separable.

_Insects._

_Lepidoptera._--We can only glance hastily at the more prominent features

of the wonderfully rich and varied butterfly-fauna of the Oriental region.

In the first family Danaidæ, the genera _Danais_ and _Euploea_ are

everywhere abundant, and the latter especially forms a conspicuous feature

in the entomological aspect of the country; the large "spectre-butterflies"

(_Hestia_) are equally characteristic of the Malayan sub-region. Satyridæ,

though abundant are not very remarkable, _Debis_, _Melanitis_, _Mycalesis_,

and _Ypthima_ being the most characteristic {319}genera. Morphidæ are well

represented by the genera _Amathusia_, _Zeuxidia_, _Discophora_, and

_Thaumantis_, some of the species of which almost equal the grand South

American Morphos. The Nymphalidæ furnish us with a host of characteristic

genera, among the most remarkable of which are, _Terinos_, _Adolias_,

_Cethosia_, _Cyrestis_, _Limenitis_, and _Nymphalis_, all abounding in

beautiful species. Among the Lycænidæ are a number of fine groups, among

which we may mention _Ilerda_, _Myrina_, _Deudoryx_, _Aphneus_, _Iolaus_,

and _Amblypodia_, as characteristic examples. The Pieridæ furnish many fine

forms, such as _Thyca_, _Iphias_, _Thestias_, _Eronia_, _Prioneris_, and

_Dercas_, the last two being peculiar. The Papilionidæ are unsurpassed in

the world, presenting such grand genera as _Teinopalpus_ and _Bhutanitis_;

the yellow-marked _Ornithopteræ_; the superb "Brookiana;" the elegant

_Leptocercus_; and _Papilios_ of the "Coon," "Philoxenus," "Memnon,"

"Protenor," and especially the 'green-and-gold-dusted' "Paris" groups.

The Moths call for no special observations, except to notice the existence

in Northern India of a number of forms which resemble in a striking manner

some of the most remarkable of the above mentioned groups of the genus

_Papilio_, especially the "Protenor" group, which there is reason to

believe protected by a peculiar smell or taste like the _Heliconias_ and

Danaidæ.

_Coleoptera._--The most characteristic Oriental form of the Cicindelidæ or

tiger beetles, is undoubtedly the elegant genus _Collyris_, which is found

over the whole region and is almost confined to it. Less abundant, but

equally characteristic, is the wingless ant-like _Tricondyla_. Two small

genera _Apteroessa_ and _Dromicidia_ are confined to the Indian Peninsula,

while _Therates_ only occurs in the Malayan sub-region.

The Carabidæ, or ground carnivorous beetles, are so numerous that we can

only notice a few of the more remarkable and characteristic forms. The

wonderful _Mormolyce_ of the Indo-Malay sub-region, stands pre-eminent for

singularity in the entire family. _Thyreopterus_, _Orthogonius_,

_Catascopus_, and _Pericallus_ are very characteristic forms, as well as

_Planetes_ and {320}_Distrigus_, the latter having a single species in

Madagascar. There are 80 genera of this family peculiar to the region, 10

of which have only been found in Ceylon.

Among the Lucanidæ, or stag-beetles, _Lucanus_, _Odontolabris_, and

_Cladognathus_ are the most characteristic forms. Sixteen genera inhabit

the region, of which 7 are altogether peculiar, while three others only

extend eastward to the Austro-Malayan sub-region.

The beautiful Cetoniidæ, or rose-chafers, are well represented by

_Rhomborhina_, _Heterorhina_, _Clinteria_, _Macronota_, _Agestrata_,

_Chalcothea_ and many fine species of _Cetonia_. There are 17 peculiar

genera, of which _Mycteristes_, _Phædimus_, _Plectrone_, and _Rhagopteryx_,

are Malayan; while _Narycius_, _Clerota_, _Bombodes_, and _Chiloloba_ are

Indian.

In Buprestidæ--those elongate metallic-coloured beetles whose elytra are

used as ornaments in many parts of the world--this region stands

pre-eminent, in its gigantic _Catoxantha_, its fine _Chrysochroa_, its

Indian _Sternocera_, its Malayan _Chalcophora_ and _Belionota_, as well as

many other beautiful forms. It possesses 41 genera, of which 14 are

peculiar to it, the rest being generally of wide range or common to the

Ethiopian and Australian regions.

In the extensive and elegant group of Longicorns, the Oriental region is

only inferior to the Neotropical. It possesses 360 genera, 25 of which are

Prionidæ, 117 Cerambicidæ, and 218 Lamiidæ;--about 70 per cent. of the

whole being peculiar. The most characteristic genera are _Rhaphidopodus_

and _Ægosoma_ among Prionidæ; _Neocerambyx_, _Euryarthrum_, _Pachyteria_,

_Acrocyrta_, _Tetraommatus_, _Chloridolum_, and _Polyzonus_ among

Cerambycidæ; and _Coelosterna_, _Rhytidophora_, _Batocera_, _Agelasta_, and

_Astathes_ among Lamiidæ.

Of remarkable forms in other families, we may mention the gigantic horned

_Chalcosoma_ among Scarabæidæ; the metallic _Campsosternus_ among

Elateridæ; the handsome but anomalous _Trictenotoma_ forming a distinct

family; the gorgeous _Pachyrhynchi_ of the Philippine Islands among

Curculionidæ; _Diurus_ {321}among Brenthidæ; with an immense number and

variety of Anthotribidæ, Heteromera, Malacoderma, and Phytophaga.

THE ORIENTAL SUB-REGIONS.