9o Reviezvs. \ 



Emu 

 2nd Oct. 



the AtrichidcB (Scrub-Birds) and Memiridce (Lj^-e-Birds) there are 

 two remarkable specialized Australasian forms. 



No Australasian form is more widely found in Polynesia than 

 the familiar Halcyon. 



It . is extremely interesting to find that the European Cuckoo 

 ranges as near to us as Timor, whilst its Asiatic prototype, C. 

 intermedius, visits the northern parts of Australia. The genus 

 Cacomantis (short-winged, typical Cuckoos) is a Malayan and 

 Papuan form, extending on the one hand to India and on the other 

 to Fiji. In Australasia there are three species. The focus of the 

 pretty little Bronze-Cuckoos {Chalcococcyx) is New Guinea. 



Of the perplexing Plain-Wanderer (Pcdionomus) Colonel Legge 

 says that its dissimilar habits and Limicoline eggs almost warrant 

 its separation from the TurnicidtB and placing in a separate family, 

 Pedionomidce. And by parity of reasoning might not the genus 

 Zosterops, with its 86 species, be removed from the Meliphagidce, 

 from which it exhibits so many points of difference ? 



In the order FidicaricB, which is full of fascinating interest, the 

 RallidcB are fairly represented in Australia. Regarding the stray 

 Native-Hen [Microtrihonyx) being procured at sea between Tasmania 

 and the Auckland Islands, may it not have escaped from ship- 

 board ? 



The conclusions at which Colonel Legge arrives from his con- 

 sideration of the geographical distribution of species in the Aus- 

 tralian Region are as follow : — 



" I. Australasian and Austro-Malaj^an are the most closely allied 

 sub-regions. The typical families showing this alliance are Meli- 

 phagidce, Muscicapidce, Campophagida, Laniida, Pittidce, LoriidcB, 

 MegapodidcB, ArdeidcB. 



" 2. The relations between Australia and Polynesia are mainly 

 through Meliphagidce, Muscicapidce, Laniidcc. 



" 3. Between Austro-Malaya and Polynesia we find affinity 

 through the Meliphagidce, Muscicapidce, Loriidce, Peristeridce, 

 Treronidce. 



" 4. Between Polynesia and New Zealand through the genera 

 Rhipidura, Cyanorhamphiis, Urodynamis, Notophoyx. 



" 5. Between New Zealand and Australia through the genera 

 Rhipidura, Pseudogerygone, Zosterops (doubtful). 



" In the foregoing I have not included certain genera of wide 

 range, species of which are found throughout the various sub- 

 divisions of the Australian Region." 



It is to be regretted that Wallace did not choose a wider name 

 than " Australian " for the whole region. One has got used to 

 considering Australasia as including Australia, and when the pro- 

 cess has to be reversed it means a pitfall for the unwary ornithologist. 



Some errors have appeared in Col. Legge's paper, owing, as the 

 author explains, to his not having been furnished with proofs in 

 due time. He had not time to make necessary corrections, and 

 did rot see a proof of his map. Hence inaccuracies have occurred 

 which the author deeply regrets. Thus " Australian " is given as 



