ROUTES OF MIGRATION. loi 



but by the presence of many Indian avian types 

 in Madagascar, not only of genera but of species, 

 some of the latter being hardly distinguishable. 

 That it was also at no very remote period a regular 

 route for migrants by way of the Indian Peninsula, 

 is equally certain, as the present migrations of this 

 Falcon undoubtedly demonstrate. The occurrence 

 of the east Palasarctic Cuckoo (Cuculus himalaycmui) 

 in Madagascar also suggests a passage across this 

 ocean ; and the presence of Cuculus gularis and 

 Cuculus capensis in South-east Africa appears to 

 me to indicate an Emigration by the same route. 

 Future research may yet show that Cuculus hima- 

 layanus is as regular in its visits to Madagascar as 

 Falco amurensis. This route is also, I believe, one 

 of the fly-lines of the Curlew Sandpiper {Tringa 

 mharquata) to South Africa, a fact confirmed by 

 that bird only occurring on passage in Madagascar 

 {Jide M. Pollen). This route of Emigration may also 

 possibly explain, among various other instances, the 

 presence of Rhyncluea capensis in Madagascar and 

 continental Africa; and of Glareola ocularis in 

 Madagascar, whose nearest ally is the Oriental Gla- 

 reola orientalis ; more especially so as it appears 

 even now occasionally to visit the outlying islands 

 (Mauritius,7z<ie Grandidier). This route may yet 

 be shown to be a regular fly-line of other east 

 Palccarctic birds, especially of such that are gifted 

 with great powers of flight; for it must be re- 

 membered that the widest water-stages are quite 

 600 miles across. It is probably owing to that 



