68 



A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



very remarkable forms, indicating a long and complete isolation 

 for the areas here included. It is made up of the large island 

 of Madagascar, and the adjacent Mascarene Islands — Reunion, 

 Mauritius and Rodriguez, and the islands to the north, including 



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III. i6.— The Whale-headed Stork {Balceniccps) 



the Seychelles. Of living and extinct birds the islands included 

 in this sub-region possess a richer collection of distinct and 

 peculiar types than any other region in the world, on which 



