SCLATER ON THE GENERAL DISTRIBUTION OF AVES. 141 



tropical Eegion, be reckoned at about 1500, and its geographical 

 area at nearly 4,000,000 square miles, we have a species to each 

 2600 miles nearly, which indicates a degree of intensity of species 

 only surpassed by Tropical America. 



IV. Australian or Western Pal^otropical "Region 

 {He^io Australiana) . 



Esctent. — Papua and adjacent islands, Australia, Tasmania and 

 Pacific Islands ; an area of perhaps 3,000,000 square miles. 



Characteristic forms. — 



1. (Australia.) JEgotheles, Falcunculus, CoUuricincla, Grallina, 

 Gymnorhina, Strejpera, Cinclosoma, Menura, PsopTiodes, Malurus, 

 Sericornis, Epthianura, Pardalotus, CJilamydera, IPtilonorliynchus, 

 Struthidea, Licmetis, CalyptorhyncTius, Platycercv^, JEupJiema, Ca- 

 lopsitta, CUmacteris, Scythrops, Myzantha, Talegalla, Leipoa, Pedio- 



. nomus, Dromaitts, Cladorhynchiis, Trihonyx, CereopsiSy Ansera/nas, 

 Biziura. 



2. (Papua.) Sericulus, Melanop^rrhus, Ptiladela, Edoliosoma, 

 Peltops, Bectes, Manucodia, Gymnocorvus, Astrapia, Paradisea, 

 EpimacJitis, Nasiterna, Charmosyna, Cyclopsitta, Goti/ra, Sfc. 



3. (New Zealand.) Neomorpha, Prosthemadera, Anthornis, Acan- 

 tkisittdf Mohoa, Certkiparus, Turtiayra, Aplonis, Creadion, Nestor ^ 

 StrigopSy Apteryx, Ocydromus. 



4. (Pacific Islands.) Moho, Hemignathtts, Drepanis, Pomarea, 

 Metalolus, Sturnoides, Leptornis, Tatare, Loxops^ CoriphiluSj Pti- 

 lonopus. 



New G-uinea is in some respects so peculiar in its Ornithology, 

 as far as we are acquainted with it, that it would at first sight 

 appear as if it ought to form a zoological region of itself. But 

 there are certainly many genera common to it and Australia (for 

 example, Podargus, Tanysiptera, Alcyone, Mimeta, Ptilorhis, Crac- 

 ticus, Manucodia, &c.) ; and for the present I am inclined to retain 

 it as part of the Australian region. Both New Zealand and the 

 Pacific islands have also some claims to stand alone as separate 

 regions, their forms of ornithic life being in many cases extremely 

 peculiar and local. If they can be attached anywhere, however 

 it is to Australia ; and I have included them temporarily in the 

 same region. Mr. Gould's 'Birds of Australia' has made us 



