312 ON THE OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIA, 



turnal and diurnal, comprise only 37 species, among which 

 we find only one of the restricted genus Aquila or True eagles ; 

 no vulture of any kind, and only two kites, Milvus affinis 

 and M. issurus. Among the nocturnal owls, however, those 

 belonging to the genus Strix, are more numerous than in any 

 other country, comprising no less than four species, whereas 

 other countries are provided with only one species of this useful 

 genus. 



Among the perchers, the insectivora are greatly in excess ; 

 of the Podargi there are 6 species, the Honey-eaters (MeUphagidce) 

 include more than 20 genera and 63 species, while of the Maluridce, 

 which are among the most beautiful and brilliantly colored of our 

 Australian birds, there are 13 species. 



The Fringillidce (finches) are found in great numbers ; and the 

 Psittacidce extremely numerous, more so than in any other country. 

 They form four great groups, the Calijptorijticlii, Cacatuce, 

 Trichoglossi, and ground Parrots. 



The Calyptorlmjnclii procure the greater part of their food from 

 the Banksice and Casuarina, the small branches of which may 

 frequently be found torn open by these birds in search of Lepi- 

 dopterous and other Larva3 ; nor are even the woody nuts of the 

 BanJcsice proof against their immensely powerful jaws, but are 

 split open and the white kernel eagerly devoured. Of Calyp- 

 torhynchus there are at least 7 species known, and all, I believe, 

 inhabit Australia. 



The Cacatuce number six species. The Triclioglossi subsist 

 chiefly upon the honey procured from the flower-cups of the 

 Eucalypti, and the Ground parrots, which include the genera, 

 EupJiema, Platycercus, Psephotus, Melopsittacus, Nymphicus, and 

 Pezoporus, are all peculiar to Australia. The united groups of 

 these comprise 60 species. 



While the Gallinacea are few, being only represented by two 

 genera of which jointly there are only 5 species ; the Pigeons 

 and Hemipodes are very numerous, and many of the former, such 

 as the Carpophagce and the Ptilinopi are very beautiful. The 

 Procellaridce which are found visiting the whole of our coast, 

 are also in species more numerous than in any other part of the 

 world. 



