376 Wonders of the Bird World 



B. THE ARID PROVINCE. 



This Province includes the southern part of North 

 America from about 50 N. Lat, and occupies a more 

 western area than the Humid Province. The greater part 

 of the Arid Province consists of plains and deserts, with an 

 exceedingly dry climate. Prof. Allen gives some of the 

 characteristic forms of birds as Rhinogryphus (Californian 

 Vulture), Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium\ Road-Runner (Geo- 

 coccyx\ etc. 



a. THE CAMPESTRIAN SUB-PROVINCE. 



This contains the greater part of the Great Plains, in- 

 cluding those of the Saskatchewan, Columbia, and Snake 

 rivers. Mr. Allen divides it into three districts, that of the 

 " Great Plains," the " Great Basin," and the " Pacific Coast." 



b. THE SONORAN SUB-PROVINCE. 



The limits of this Sub-Province have not been exactly 

 defined, as more information is required regarding the 

 Avifauna of some of the countries, but it reaches to about 

 38 N. Lat. and south to Lower California, and also in- 

 cludes all the table-land of Central Mexico. Prof. Allen 

 thinks that the more tropical portion of North America 

 may be divided into three Sub-Provinces or " Faunae," viz. 

 the Floridian, Tamaulipan, and the Saint Lucas. 



F. THE NEOTROPICAL REGION. 



This Region is the richest in bird-life of any part of the 

 globe. Within its limits are found the Rheas (p. 17), the 

 Tinamous (p. 16), the Toucans (Rhamphdstides\ the Puff- 

 birds (Buccones), nearly all the Humming-birds ( Trochili\ 

 the Curassows (Graces), and hundreds of peculiar genera 

 and species. 



