254 ; ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART III. 
It is, however, sufficiently rich, possessing 54 families of land 
birds, besides a few genera whose position is not well ascertained, 
and which may constitute distinct families. Of these 6 are 
peculiar, Musophagide (the plantain eaters); Coliidz (the colies) ; 
Leptosomide, allied to the cuckoos; Irrisoride, allied to the 
hoopoes ; and Serpentaridz, allied to the hawks. Only one 
Passerine family is peculiar—Paictide, while most of the other 
tropical regions possess several; but Huryceros and Buphaga, 
here classed with the Sturnide, ought, perhaps, to form two 
more. It has, however, many peculiar genera, especially among the 
fruit-thrushes, Pycnonotide ; flycatchers, Muscicapide ; shrikes, 
Lanide ; crows, Corvide ; starlings, Sturnide ; and weaver-birds, 
Ploceide; the latter family being very characteristic of the region. 
It is also rich in barbets, Megalemide (7 peculiar genera) ; 
cuckoos, Cuculide; rollers, Coraciide ; bee-eaters, Meropide ; 
hornbills, Bucerotide ; and goat-suckers, Caprimulgide. It is 
poor in parrots and rather so in pigeons; but it abounds in 
‘Pterocles and Francolinus, genera of Galline, and possesses 4 
genera of the peculiar group of the guinea-fowls, forming part of 
the pheasant family. It abounds in vultures, eagles, and other 
birds of prey, among which is the anomalous genus Serpentarius, 
the secretary-bird, constituting a distinct family. Many of the 
most remarkable forms are confined to Madagascar and the 
adjacent islands, and will be noticed in our account of that sub- 
region. 
feptiles—Of the reptiles there are 4 peculiar Ethiopian 
families ;—3 of snakes, Rachiodontide, Dendraspide, and Atrac- 
taspide and 1 of lizards, Chamesauride. 
Psammophide (desert snakes) are abundant, as are Lycodontide 
(fanged ground-snakes), and Viperide (vipers). The following 
genera of snakes are peculiar or highly characteristic :—Lepto- 
rhynchus, Rhamnophis, Herpetethiops and Grayia (Colubride) ; 
Hopsidrophis and Bucephalus (Dendrophide) ; Langalia (Dryo- 
phide) ; Pythonodipsas (Dipsadidee) ; Boedon, Lycophidion, Holu- 
ropholis, Simocephalus and Lamprophis (Lycodontide) ; Hortulia 
and Sanzinia (Pythonide); Cyrptophis, Elapsoidea and Pacilo- 
phis (Elapide) ; and Atheris (Viperide), The following genera 
