ao ON THE GEOGRAPHY OF ANIMALS. 
their species, have a more restricted distribution than 
the nocturnal ; yet, of these, the eagles enjoy no incon- 
siderable range: of four discovered in Europe, one 
is more properly Arctic, three have been found in several 
parts of Africa, and one occurs in America, leaving 
three only to Europe. It is singular that those rapa- 
cious birds which, from the peculiar structure of their 
wings, have been supposed to enjoy the greatest power 
of flight among their congeners, should nevertheless 
have a much more limited range. This is proved by the 
fact, that, of eight genuine falcons inhabiting Europe 
and Northern Africa, two only have been discovered in 
America. It has, however, recently been stated, that 
the peregrine falcon of Australia is absolutely the same 
as that of Europe. Among the numerous species of 
falcon in Southern Africa, not one occurs in Europe: 
the European kestril, long confounded with the mon- 
tagnard of Le Vaillant, being a decidedly distinct 
species. Upon the whole, the distribution of the forty- 
four European birds of prey appears to be thus regulated : 
—three are more properly Arctic ; eleven are found also 
in America, two in Asia and Africa, and one in Asia 
and America ; leaving twenty-seven, or more than one 
half, as characteristic of European ornithology. 
(28.) The gallinaceous genera are few. Their wide 
dispersion is decidedly against the theory, that all birds, 
with heavy bodies and short wings, are more limited 
in their geographic range than other terrestrial tribes. 
This argument has been ingeniously made use of, to ac- 
count for the very restricted limits nature has imposed 
upon the greater number of Indian parrots; many 
species, as it is stated, being confined to particular 
islands. We must not, however, expect to find a reason 
for every thing: in the present instance, the above con- 
clusion is particularly erroneous. Ornithologists, indeed, 
need not be told, that the wings of nearly the whole of 
the parrot family are peculiarly adapted for strong and 
vigorous flight; while those who have contemplated 
