CHAP. XI.] ‘THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 281 
peculiar species of Pratincola, Hypsipetes, Phedina, Tchitrea, 
Zosterops, Foudia, Collocalia, and Coracopsis ; while Mauritius has 
a very peculiar form of dove of the sub-genus Trocaza ; an Alec- 
trenas, extinct within the last thirty years ; and a species of the 
Oriental genus of parroquets, Palwornis. The small and remote 
island of Rodriguez has another Palaornis, as well as a peculiar 
Foudia, and a Drymeca of apparently Indian affinity. 
Coming to the Seychelle Islands, far to the north, we find the 
only mammal an Indian species of bat (Pteropus edwardsii). Of 
the twelve land-birds all but one are peculiar species, but all belong 
to genera found also in Madagascar, except one—a peculiar species 
of Paleornis. This is an Oriental genus, but found also in several 
Mascarene Islands and on the African continent. A species of 
black parrot (Coracopsis barklayi) and a weaver bird of peculiar 
type (Foudia seychellarwm) show, however, a decided connection 
with Madagascar. There are also two peculiar pigeons—a short- 
winged Turtur and an Alectrenas. 
Most of the birds of the Comoro Islands are Madagascar spe- 
cies, only two being African. Five are peculiar, belonging to the 
genera Nectarinia, Zosterops, Dicrurus, Foudia, and Alectreenas. 
Reptiles are scarce. There appear to be no snakes in Mauri- 
tius and Bourbon, though some African species are said to be 
found in the Seychelle Islands. Lizards are fairly represented. 
Mauritius has Cryptoblepharus, an Australian genus of Gymno- 
pthalmide ; Hemdactylus (a wide-spread genus); Peropus 
(Oriental and Australian)—both belonging to the Geckotide. 
Bourbon has Heteropus, a Moluccan and Australian genus of 
Scincide ; Phelsuma (Geckotide), and Chameleo, both found also 
in Madagascar; as well as Pyais, one of the tortoises. The 
Seychelles have Theconyx, a peculiar genus of Geckotide, and 
Chameleo. Gigantic land-tortoises, which formerly inhabited 
most of the Mascarene Islands, now only survive in Aldabra, a 
small island north of the Seychelles. These will be noticed 
again further on. Amphibia seem only to be recorded from the 
Seychelles, where two genera of tree-frogs of the family Poly- 
pedatide are found; one (Megalixalus) peculiar, the other 
(Rappia) found also in Madagascar and Africa. 
Vou. I.—20 
