310 ON THE OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIA, 



Among which, he states, " are comprised many forms remark- 

 able for their novelty, the anomalous character of their structure, 

 and the singularity of their habits, such as the Bower-birds 

 (PtilonorJiynclii and OJilamyderce,) and the mound raising birds, 

 (Leipoa, Talegalla, and Megapodius,)" errors concerning which 

 have been all rectified in his work. 



No part of Australia is better suited for bird-life than New South 

 Wales, and from the brushes, scrubs, and belts of luxuriant vegeta- 

 tion found all along the coast, between the mountains and the sea, 

 one would naturally expect to find New South Wales tenanted 

 by a fauna peculiar to itself. This is really the case : New South 

 Wales is inhabited by a greater number of species than any other 

 part of Australia, although the species strictly peculiar to it are 

 less in number than those peculiar to Northern Australia. Upon 

 examining Gould's table of the distribution of species, we find 

 that 385 are known to inhabit New South Wales ; 289 South 

 Australia; 243 Western Australia; 230 Northern Australia; 

 and 181 are found in Van Dieman's Land. Of these 88 are 

 peculiar to New jSouth Wales ; 76 to South Australia ; 36 to 

 Western Australia; 105 to Northern Australia; and 32 are 

 peculiar to Van Dieman's Land ; 33 being found in all parts of 

 Australia. 



By the term peculiar Mr. Gould does not imply that such 

 species are strictly confined to their respective countries, but, 

 that as far as is yet known, they have not been found else- 

 where. As the character of the soil differs and varies considerably, 

 so each dissimilar district is clothed with a different style of 

 vegetation, and each has, as it were, a Zoology of its own. For 

 instance, the lofty Eucalypti are tenanted by the honey-loving 

 Parakeets (Triclioglossi) and some Ptiloti. The Banksice swarm 

 at various seasons of the year with the true honey-eaters, 

 (Meliphagidce.} The Fig trees are resorted to by the Regent and 

 Satin-birds, and the Ptilinopi. The Palms by the large fruit- 

 eating Pigeons (Carpopliagce), and the beautiful Lopliolaimus. 

 In the dense scrubs we find the Brush Turkey and Leipoa, and 

 on the grassy slopes and plains, the Ground Parrots and terres- 

 trial Doves, while the densely wooded spurs of the mountains 

 and gullies, are traversed by Lyre-birds and the Orthonyx. 



