254 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part in. 



It is, however, sufficiently rich, possessing 54 families of land 

 birds, besides a few genera whose position is not well ascertained, 

 and which may' constitute distinct families. Of these 6 are 

 peculiar, Musophagidae (the plantain eaters); Coliidse (the colies) ; 

 Leptosomidse, allied to the cuckoos ; Irrisoridee, allied to the 

 hoopoes ; and Serpentaridse, allied to the hawks. Only one 

 Passerine family is peculiar — Paictidee, while most of the other 

 tropical regions possess several ; but Euryceros and Buphaga, 

 here classed with the Sturnidse, ought, perhaps, to form two 

 more. It has, however, many peculiar genera, especially among the 

 fruit-thrushes, Pycnonotidse ; flycatchers, Muscicapidae ; shrikes, 

 Lanidse ; crows, Corvidse ; starlings, Sturnidse ; and weaver-birds, 

 Ploceidae ; the latter family being very characteristic of the region. 

 It is also rich in barbets, Megalaemidae (7 peculiar genera) ; 

 cuckoos, Cuculidas ; rollers, Coraciidse ; bee-eaters, Meropidse ; 

 hornbills, Bucerotidre ; and goat-suckers, Caprimulgidae. It is 

 poor in parrots and rather so in pigeons ; but it abounds in 

 Pterocles and Francolinus, genera of Gallinae, and possesses 4 

 genera of the peculiar group of the guinea-fowls, forming part of 

 the pheasant family. It abounds in vultures, eagles, and other 

 birds of prey, among which is the anomalous genus Seiyentarius, 

 the secretary-bird, constituting a distinct family. Many of the 

 most remarkable forms are confined to Madagascar and the 

 adjacent islands, and will be noticed in our account of that sub- 



region. 



Reptiles. — Of the reptiles there are 4 peculiar Ethiopian 

 families ; — 3 of snakes, Rachiodontidse, Dendraspidae, and Atrac- 

 taspidse and 1 of lizards, Chamsesauridse. 



Psammophidse (desert snakes) are abuudant, as are Lycodontidse 

 (fanged ground-snakes), and Viperidae (vipers). The following 

 genera of snakes are peculiar or highly characteristic : — Lcpto- 

 rhynclms, Bhamnophis, Herpetetliiops and Grayia (Colubridae) ; 

 Hopsidrophis and Bucephalus (Dendrophidae) ; Langalia (Dryo- 

 phidie) ; Pythonodipsas (Dipsadidse) ; Boedon, Lycophidion, Holu- 

 ropholis, Simocephahis and Lamprophis (Lycodontiche) ; Hortidia 

 and Sanzinia (Pythonidae) ; Cyrptopliis, Elapsoidea and Pcecilo- 

 phis (Elapidae) ; and Atheris (Viperidse). The following genera 



