THE ETHIOPIAN REGION 



Seven families of birds are found only in Africa: the whale-headed stork; the secre- 

 tary bird; the plantain-eaters; the mouse birds; the rock fowl; the^oxpeckers: and the 

 helmet shrikes. Ostriches are almost restricted to Africa; the hammerhead stork and 

 the guinea fowl occur outside Africa only in Madagascar. In addition, there are groups 

 of species such as ground hornbills, wood hoopoes, bush shrikes, and certain groups of 

 weaver birds that are also characteristic of Africa. 



Madagascar and its nearby islands have a small fauna, compared with the rich and 

 varied bird life of .\frica, but many of the elements of this zoological subregion are 

 very distinct, indicating long separation from .Africa. The giant pigeon family (Raphi- 

 dae), best known from the dodo, has become e.xtinct within recent times, and the ele- 

 phant birds (Aepyomithidae) disappeared before historical times, only their bones and 

 their eggs being known. Four families have members still living: the mesetes (Mesoena- 

 tidae), the ground rollers (Leptosomatidae), the asitys (Philepittidae), and the Mada- 

 gascar shrikes (Vangidae). To some students, Madagascar appears sufficiently distinct 

 to be regarded as a separate region. 



South of the Sahara Desert, the Ethiopian Region presents much diversity. The dis- 

 tribution of birds seems to be most closely correlated with vegetation, which is based in 

 turn on climate. 



There are two main divisions: 



I. West .\frican Subregion 



A. Guinea Forest Province; the rain forests. 



B. Guinea Savanna Province; the savanna fringing the forest. 



II. East and South .'\frican Subregion 



A. Humid Montane Province: the forests on the scattered mountains above 5,000 feet (Mount 

 Kenya, Kilimanjaro, Kivu, Ruwenzori, Cameroon, etc.). 



B. Sudanese Province; the bush country just south of the Sahara. 



C. North East Africa Province; the Abyssinian highlands and arid Somaliland coast, and South 

 Arabia. 



D. Eastern and Southern Province; East and South Africa. 



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