334 VISCOUNT WALDEN ON THE BIRDS OF CELEBES. [May 2, 



origin, all the five genera of Psittaci known in Celebes are either 

 Australian or peculiar. The Columbce while imparting a decided, it 

 may even be affirmed an absolute, Australian character to the Cele- 

 bean avifauna, as clearly indicate a very close Philippine affinity. 



" Among the Gallince, Gallus and Megapodius are severally re- 

 presentatives of equally important typical families, characterizing one 

 the Indian, the other the Australian region. But Celebes and the 

 Philippines * are the only areas where representatives of the Phasi- 

 anidcB and Megapodidcs are associated. 



"Among the Picarice, the presence of Scythrops can hardly be 

 deemed sufficient to balance the two genera of Picidee, more espe- 

 cially if Scythrops be migratory in Celebes, as in Australia. But 

 though three of the genera belonging to the Alcedinida are Indian, 

 yet the great richness of the family in Celebes forms an important 

 element in favour of the Australian nature of the Celebean ornis. 



" But to obtain a still more complete conception of the zoogeo- 

 graphical characters of Celebean ornithology, the following tables 

 have been prepared, showing the principal Indian and Australian 

 genera that do not occur in the island. 



" Notwithstanding the great preponderance of Indian genera, 

 some entire families, and a large number of genera characteristic of, 

 if not altogether peculiar to, the Indian regions are wanting in Ce- 

 lebes. For instance, the following important families are without 

 representation : — 



Sittidce. Paridce. Laniidee. 



Troyonidce. Brachypodidce. Alaudidee. 



Megalaimidce. Pycnonotidce. 



"And the great families of the Picidee and Timaliidce are but 

 poorly indicated — the first by two genera, the last by but a single 

 genus. Among the Grallcc and Anseres, the Otididce, Cursoridce, 

 Glareolidce and Gruidce, and the Phcenicopteridce, all families having 

 representation in the Indian region, appear to be unknown in Ce- 

 lebes. The absence of the Vulturida is a feature in common with 

 the whole Indo-Malayan region. The number of Anatidce and 

 LaridcB recorded from Celebes is so small that it seems probable that 

 members of those families have been overlooked by collectors. 



"After excluding from the list of genera found in the Indian 

 region all those that do not likewise form an Indo-Malayan habitat, 

 at least eighty-eight Indian genera are absent from Celebes ; of these 

 twelve are purely Indo-Malayan. 



" Table V. — Showing the principal Indian genera which are wanting 

 in Celebes. — N.B. Purely Indo-Malayan genera are marked 

 with a dagger. 



Ierax. Bulaca. Batrachostomus. 



Ketupa. Phodilus. -fEurylaimus. 



* It is as jet uncertain whether the Philippine Gallus inhabits the same 

 islands as the Philippine Mcgapodii. Gallus is only known for certain to occur 

 in Luzon. 



