CHAP. XVIII.] 



BIRDS. 



359 



FAMILY 112. RHETOCHETID^E. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The genus Rhinochetus (1 sp.), consists of a singular bird 

 called the Kagu, which inhabits New Caledonia, an island 

 which may be placed with almost equal propriety in our 1st, 

 2nd, or 3rd Australian sub-regions. It is a bird of a bluish 

 ash-colour, with a loose plumage, partaking something of the 

 appearance of Kail, Plover, and Heron, but with peculiarities of 

 structure which require it to be placed in a distinct family. 

 Its anatomy shows that its nearest allies are the South American 

 genera, Eurypyga and Psophia. 



FAMILY 113. AKDEIDJE. (5 Genera, 80 Species.) 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The well-known Herons and Bitterns are found in every 

 part of the globe, and everywhere closely resemble each other. 

 Omitting the minuter sub-divisions, the genera are as follows: 



Ardea (60 sp.), cosmopolitan ; Botaurus (6 sp.), almost cos- 

 mopolitan ; Tigrisoma (4 sp.), Tropical America and West Africa ; 

 Nycticorax (9 sp.), cosmopolitan ; Cancroma (1 sp.), Tropical 

 America. 



VOL. II. 24 



