138 SCLATER ON THE GENERAL DISTEIBTJTION OF AVES. 



The most recent summary of the Birds of Europe gives- 



1 . Accipitres 67~^ 



2. Passeres 238 



3. Scansores 12 



4. Columbae 7 



5. GaUins 22 ( 



6. Struthiones .... 



7. Grails 101 



8. Anseres 144-^ 



)^581 species. 



It is very difficult to say what additions should be made to this 

 in order to give the approximate number of the birds of the whole 

 Palsearctic Region ; but a moderate calculation does not show more 

 than 650 species truly belonging to this fauna : for it must be re- 

 collected that the number 581 contains many birds of rare occur- 

 rence in Europe, and which must be correctly reckoned as belong- 

 ing to other divisions. As we have in the Palsearctic Eegion the 

 enormous land area of probably upwards of 14,000,000 square 

 miles, this will give us a species for each 21,000 square miles, 

 speaking in round numbers ; and it consequently follows (as might 

 have been expected), that the Palsearctic is by far the least prolific 

 region of ornithic life on the globe. According to my ideas, there- 

 fore, the statement in Johnston's ' Physical Atlas,' that " Europe 

 possesses more species them <my other zoological provmce,^ is exactly 

 contrary to the fact. 



II. Ethiopian or "Western Paljeoteopical Eegion 

 (JRegio JEthiopica). 



Extent. — Africa, south of the Atlas range, Madagascar, Bourbon, 

 Mauritius, Socotra and probably Arabia up to the Persian Gulf, 

 south of 30° N. 1. ; an approximate area of 12,000,000 square miles. 



Characteristic forms. — Gypogeranus, Selotarsus, I^olyhoroides, 

 Gypohierax, Melierax, Macrodipteryx, Irrisor, Fregilupus, Bucor- 

 vus, Apaloderma, Farisoma, Macronyx, Lioptilus, Sericolius, Ma- 

 laconotus, Laniarius, Ghaunonotus^ Prionops, Sigmodus, Fhyllas- 

 trephus, Lanioturdus, Vidua, Juida, Buphaga, Verreauxia, Zcemo- 

 don, Indicator, Musophaga, Colius, Pyocephalus, Numida, Phasidus, 

 Struthio, Balceniceps, Scopus. 



(Madagascar). Euryceros, Falculia, Oriolia, Philipitta, Bra- 

 chypteracias, Atelornis, Bernieria, Hartlauhius, Artamia, Vanga, 

 Coua, Leptosomus, Vigorsia, Mesites, Biensis. 



The characteristic forms of African Ornithology are very nume- 



