1873.] DISTRIBUTION OF ASIATIC BIRDS. 651 



Of the waders and water birds a much larger proportion are 

 European ; but there are also many confined to Asia, of which, per- 

 haps, Ibidorhynchus struthersi is the most interesting. This bird was 

 supposed to be restricted to the higher regions of the Himalaya, 

 where it frequents the beds of shallow streams ; but it has been found 

 by M. David in Setchuan and Mongolia, as well as at Pekin. The 

 occurrence of a small Swan, described by Mr. Swinhoe as Cygnus 

 davidi, but which M. David himself identifies with Cygnus coscoroba, 

 is, if rightly referred to the latter species, a most remarkable fact, 

 as this species has not, I believe, been previously observed out of S. 

 America. 



Otis tarda was found by M. David in Mongolia. It has also 

 occurred in the Peshawur valley, according to Mr. Hume ; so that 

 it has a wider range than any bird of its family. 



Japan. 



The last place included in the Palsearctic Region to which I shall 

 refer is Japan, of which the birds are imperfectly known to us from 

 several sources, Temminck's • Fauna Japonica ' being the most im- 

 portant. 



Some curious instances of anomalous distribution are presented ; 

 and though the general facies of the fauna is decidedly European, the 

 occurrence in the same group of islands of species so impossible to 

 associate as Carpophaga ianthina, Cyanopica cyanea, Phasianus 

 versicolor, and Lagopus mutus must be regarded as very curious. 

 It is much to be wished that the distribution of these birds in the 

 different islands was better known ; and I cannot help thinking that 

 a detailed study of the distribution and affinities of the Japanese 

 fauna and flora would prove of great interest to a person competent 

 to undertake it. 



The number of land birds I find recorded from Japan is about 

 134, of which 24 birds of prey may be omitted, as, with the excep- 

 tion of Ninox japonica, they are all of very wide-ranging genera, and 

 all but 4 are species also found in Europe. Of the remainder I find 



per cent. 



Peculiar to Japan 21 19 



Common to Europe and Asia 32 29 



Common to Asia only 57 52 



Of the genera 



Of very wide range 32 



Indo-Malayan 12 



Palaearctic 56 



Common to Europe 79 



Among the most remarkable of Japanese birds are : — MicrosceHs 

 amaurotis, the only member of the tropical family of Brachypodidae 

 which extends so far north ; Vinago sieboldi, a fine Pigeon belong- 

 ing to the Treroninse ; two peculiar species of Pheasants, both of 

 which have been introduced into Europe ; Uragus sanguinolentus, a 

 beautiful Finch unknown elsewhere ; and several birds of European 



