( i:^8 ) 



characters arc not liarmonions, as wo <lo not, for cxaniplc, tiinl all forms darker or 

 paler, larger or smaller, on the same islands. 



The next, and evidently the more imjiortant (|uestion, is, whence came the 

 inhabitants of the Galapagos. "We believe, with Darwin and others, that there 

 can be no doubt that the whole fanna came from America. 



The one or two species of rats, and the one bat, have their nearest relatives in 

 South or Central .America. 



The relationship of the resident birds is as follows : — 



Genus jyesomimus : Peculiar to the grouj), though closely allied to the jmrcly 



American genus Mimns, in fact hardly generically separable (p. 142). 

 Genus Dentlroica : Purely American (see afterwards, p. 147). 

 Genus Certhidea : Peculiar to the group. Somewhat uncertain, but eviilently 



nearest allied to American forms (see afterwards, p. 14JS). 

 Genus I'rngne : Purely American (see p. 151). 

 Genus (i>w/,i.:a : Pecnliar to the group. Evidently nearest related to Guirnca 



and other purely American forms. 

 The Dolickonyjc is probably only a visitor. C'onspecitie with the American form. 

 Genus Mijiarchus : Purely South American. 

 Genus VyrocfplmUis : Purely American. The two forms may almost be called 



dwarfed forms of the mainland species. 

 Coccy::us : The same as in South America. 

 The Strix has its nearest relative in South America (Ecuador. See afterwards, 



p. 202). 

 The Asio is pecnliar, but nearest to the cosmopolitan Asia accipitrinus. 

 The Jiuteo is nearest allied to the North American Btitro s/ra/nsoiu', which 



wanders in winter all over South America. 

 The Freijata is indifferent, being a widely spread marine form. 

 The Pelecunus is the Western American form. 



The Stdae are more or less peculiar or Western American marine forms. 

 The Pkuethon is indiiferent. 

 The Ardea is North American. 

 The IJerodius is North and South American. 



The Butorides is very closely allied to the continental American form. 

 The Syctanassa is purely American. 

 The Phoenicopterus is not one of the South American species, but the one 



inhabiting the coasts of the ( 'aribbeau Sea, Florida, the Bahamas, etc. 

 The Voecilonattu is closely allied to /'. hnlmmensis, which, according to 



Salvadori,* inhabits the " Bahamas, Antilles, and the whole of South 



America, with the Falklands, but is not found in Venezuela, Colombia, and 



Ecuador." 

 The .n'enus Xraojiolia is peculiar to (lie Oalajjagos, but nearest related to 



American genera. 

 The Rails {Creciscus) belong to an American genus. 

 The Hnenmtopus is ])ecnliar, but evidently nearest to American forms. 

 The Spheniscus is a jiccnliar species, but nearest akin to a Chilian species. 

 The Oceanites, FroccUuria, Ocennodroma, Puffimts, Aestrelata, Diomedea, 



Anous and Gulls are indifferent, being marine. 

 The Phalacrocorax is quite peculiar, but not of value for our present question. 



• Cut. II. Ilrlt. Mu«. Vol. XXVII. p. -.'SI. 



