296 



ON THE BIEDS INHABITING 



[1875. 



Tr. Z. S. ix. 

 p. 129. 



The number of species peculiar to the Philippine archipelago, namely 106, amounts to nearly 

 half of the total of known Philippine birds. This proportion is considerably less in the island of 

 Celebes, where, out of a known total of 205 species, 73 only are peculiar to the island. Not one 

 sino-le species is common to the Philippines and Celebes which does not at the same time 

 possess a more extended range ; and Prioniturus is the only genus which is common to the two 

 areas and unknown to extend beyond. The Papuan affinities of the Philippine ornis are only 

 o-eneric ; for no Philippine species with a Papuan range occurs which does not also range into 

 other areas. On the other hand, the great bulk of Philippine birds, exclusive of the Paltearctic 

 (which are nearly all migratory forms), are Indo-Malayan in character ; but here, again, the 

 Indo-Malayan affinities are mostly generic, and not specific — a result easily explained by the 

 fact that, of the 150 Philippine species belonging to the Eapaces, Picarise, Passeres, and Columbae, 

 90 are peculiar to the archipelago. 



The table annexed shows that the whole of the Philippine members of the families 

 Psittacidce, Cuculidce, Bucerotidce, Pittidce, Iretiidce, Par idee, Melijj/iagidce, NectarmiidcB, and 

 Licniridxe are peculiar to the archipelago, while the greater proportion of the Strigidoe, Picidce, 

 Alccdinidce, Campepharjida', Mnscicrqjidce, Prachi/jjodiida', Corvidw, Treronidce, and Columbldce 

 are also unknown beyond its limits. 



X [This table has been modified b}- subsequent research. The genera marked -Nrith a dagger have since been ascer- 

 tained to occur in the Philippine Archipelago as restricted by Lord Waldeu, aatea, p. 204, footnote. — Ed.] 



