128 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi. 



(in the Nearctic region) to California ; Chamcea, a singular form 

 allied to the wrens, and forming a distinct family, is quite pecu- 

 liar; Geococcyx, a Neotropical form of cuckoo, extends to California 

 and Southern Texas. The following genera are very character- 

 istic of the sub-region, and some of them almost confined to 

 it : Myiadcstes (Sylviid.T,) ; Pscdtri^Jcirus (Paridse) ; Cyanocitta, 

 Picicorvus (Corvidffi) ; Hespcriphona, Peuccca, Chondestes (Fringil- 

 lidse) ; Selasphorus, Atthis (Trochilidee) ; Colmiiba, Melopelia 

 (Columbidre) ; Orcortyx (Tetraonidee). 



Reptiles. — The following genera are not found in any other 

 part of the Nearctic region : Charina (Tortricidse) ; Lichanotus 

 (Pythonidte) ; Gerrltonotus (Zonuridae) ; Phyllodactylus (Gecko- 

 tidce) ; Anolius and Tropidolepis (Iguanidae). Sceloporus (Igu- 

 anidae) is only found elsewhere in Florida. All the larger North 

 American groups of lizards and snakes are also represented here ; 

 but in tortoises it is deficient, owing to the absence of lakes and 

 large rivers. 



Amphibia. — California possesses two genera of Salamandridae, 

 Aneidcs and Hcrcdia, which do not extend to the other sub- 

 regions. 



Fresh-vjater Fish. — There are two or three peculiar genera of 

 Cyprinidae, but the sub -region is comparatively poor in this 

 group. 



Plate XVIII. Illustraiive of the Zoology of California and the 

 Rochy Mountains. — We have chosen for the subject of this illus- 

 tration, the peculiar Birds of the Western mountains. The two 

 birds in the foreground are a species of grouse {Pediocaies Colum- 

 hianus), entirely confined to this sub-region ; while the only other 

 species of the genus is found in the prairies north and west of 

 AVisconsin, so that the group is peculiar to northern and western 

 America. The crested birds in the middle of the picture 

 {Oreortyx picta), are partridges, belonging to the American sub- 

 family Odontophorinffi. This is the only species of the genus 

 which is confined to California and Oregon. The bird at the 

 top is the blue crow {Gymnohitta cyanoccphala), confined to the 

 Eocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada from New Mexico and 

 Arizona northwards, and more properly belonging to the Central 



