CHAP. XVIII.] 



BIRDS. 



359 



Family 112.— KHIXOCHETID/E. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) 



GeXEKAL DlsTlLIBUTIOX. 



Neotropical I Nearctic 

 PuB-REGioxs. Sub-regions. 



Pal-earctic 

 sub-beqioss. 



Ethiopian 

 sub-reoions. 



Oriental 

 sub-kegions 



AlJSTRALlAM 

 SUB-KEGIONS. 



The genus Rhinochctus (1 sp.), consists of a singular bird 

 called the Kagu, which inhaLits New Caledonia, an island 

 which may be placed with almost equal propriety in our 1st, 

 2nd, or 3rd Australian sub-regions. It is a bird of a bluish 

 ash-colour, with a loose plumage, partaking something of the 

 appearance of Rail, Plover, and Heron, but with peculiarities of 

 structure which requii'e it to be placed in a distinct family. 

 Its anatomy shows that its nearest allies are the South American 

 genera, Eiirypyga and rsoj^hia. 



Family 113.— AEDEID^. (5 Genera, 80 Species,) 



General Di.stiubution. 



The well-known Herons and Bitterns are found in every 

 part of the globe, and everywhere closely resemble each other. 

 Omitting the minuter sub-divisions, the genera are as follows: — 



Ardca (60 sp.), cosmopolitan ; Botaurus (6 sp.), almost cos- 

 mopolitan ; Tigrisoma (4 sp.), Tropical America and West Africa ; 

 Nycticorax (9 sp.), cosmopolitan ; Cancroma (1 sp.), Trojucal 

 America. 



