GEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONS OF BIRDS. 239 
respectively belong to such geographical divisions. We have 
before spoken of groups of Birds ; we will now speak of regions. 
The world is thus divisible into six great ‘‘ regions,” termed 
(1) Palearctic, (2) Ethiopian, (3) Indian, (+) Nearctic, (5) Neo- 
tropical, and (6) Australian *, 
The PALASARCTIC region includes Europe, with Spitz- 
bergen, Iceland, the Azores, Canaries, and Madeira, Africa 
north of the Sahara (save that Tripoli and Egypt blend with the 
Ethiopian region), Asia north of the Indian Ocean and the 
Himalayas, including Afghanistan, Persia, and, possibly, Beloch- 
istan, with Asia Minor and Syria (save the Valley of the Jordan). 
Eastwards from the Himalayas it includes China north of the 
Yang-tze-kiang, at least the northern island of Japan, and the 
Kurile Islands. 
This great region is divisible into ‘ subregions,” as follows :— 
I. The European, and Il. the Mediterraneo-Persic, as described 
below f. 
The ETHIOPIAN region is composed of Africa south of 
the Palearctie region (or south of the Sahara, with more or 
less of Tripoli and Egypt), the Cape Verd and other islands, 
including St. Helena, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Reunion, the 
Seychelles and Socotra; and also Arabia and the Valley of the 
Jordan +. 
The subregions of this region are :— 
I. The Libyan, or all the northern part of the Ethiopian 
region—that is to say, a little to the north of 10° North latitude 
to the Nile basin, which is included in it as well as Abys- 
sinia. 
Il. West-African or Guinean subregion—that is to say, the 
West-African coast from Sierra Leone to the Quanza, and 
thence eastwards to the Nile watershed in the north, its eastern 
boundary southwards of this being as yet uncertain. 
Ill. The South-African or Caffrarian subregion, or Africa 
south of the Quanza and the northern watershed of the Zambesi, 
with St. Helena. 
* This division was first proposed by Mr. Sclater, F.R.S. (see Journal 
of Linnean Society (Zoology), vol. ii. pp. 180-145). Professor Newton, 
F.R.S., has published an admirable article on this subject under the heading 
“ Birds” in the last edition of the Ency. Brit. Of this article we have made 
much use. We have also made use of Mr. Wallace’s work on the ‘ Geogra- 
phical Distribution of Animals,’ and of the aid of Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, F.Z.S8. 
t See.p. 242. 
¢ This valley possesses an Indian genus of Owls, namely Ketwpa. 
