Kidely distributed Birds. 27 



tlie group of true Thrushes to which they belonged. The 

 movements and utterances observed were as characteristic 

 of the Thrush as those of T. musicus in Engkmd, or T. falk- 

 landicus in the Chiloe Archipelago, and probably as closely 

 resembled by other Turdidfe equally far removed in other 

 parts of the globe. In the same way, an equally close 

 connection may be found in widely distributed forms of the 

 common Meadow-Pipit — in fact, Anthns corre/tdera of the 

 Andean Cordilleras, A. pratensis of the British Isles, and 

 A. leucophrys of the Transvaal are almost indistinguishable 

 to the casual observer in appearance, habits, and note. The 

 genera Parus (Tits) and Motacilla (Wagtails) of the Old 

 World though varying in colour and markings, are usually as 

 identical in habits.^ both in the Northern and Southern Hemi- 

 spheres, though represented in each by distinct sjiecies widely 

 separated from each other. The same may be said of many 

 other genera, such as Lanius (Shrikes), Turtur (Doves), 

 Saxicola (Stonechats), Caprimuhjus (Nightjars), and many 

 more, showing striking family traits in appearance, habits, 

 etc. The genus Hirundo (Swallows) has a fairly universal 

 distribution, yet most of its species seem so characteristic as 

 to be unmistakable whenever met with ; and the same may be 

 said of Columba (Pigeons), Ti)iiiuncidus (Kestrels), Buteo 

 (Buzzards), Ardea (Herons), Fulica (Coots), Gallinula 

 (Waterhens), Gallinago (Snipes), Anas (Ducks), Charadrivs 

 (Ring-Plover), and many others which occur both in the 

 Old World and the New. Whether a Coot be F. gigantea 

 on an Andean lagoon, F. atra on an English lake, or F. 

 cristaia on a S. African dam or vlei, there is no mistaking 

 the bird for a Fulica. There is somewhat more variety in 

 appearance and colour between C. araxicania^ C. palumhus, 

 C. livia, C. pha'onota, and others from localities scattered 

 all over the globe ; but each Columba is so true to the Pigeon- 

 type that we cannot fail to identify it as a close connection. 

 Sea and shore birds do not show so much variety of species, 

 as the latter have usually such an extensive range and the 

 conditions of existence being more uniform than in the 

 case of land-birds that local varieties are apparently less 



