254 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part in. 



It is, however, sufficiently rich, possessing 54 families of land 

 birds, besides a few genera whose position is not well ascertained, 

 and which may constitute distinct families. Of these 6 are 

 peculiar, Musophagidae (the plantain eaters); Coliidse (the colies) ; 

 Leptosomidce, allied to the cuckoos ; Irrisoridae, allied to the 

 hoopoes ; and Serpentaridae, allied to the hawks. Only one 

 Passerine family is peculiar — Paictidse, while most of the other 

 tropical regions possess several ; but Buryceros and Buphaga, 

 here classed with the Sturnidse, ought, perhaps, to form two 

 more. It has, however, many peculiar genera, especially among the 

 fruit-thrushes, Pycnonotidae ; flycatchers, Muscicapidae ; shrikes, 

 Lanidre ; crows, Corvidse ; starlings, Sturnidse ; and weaver-birds, 

 Ploceidoe; the latter family being very characteristic of the region. 

 It is also rich in barbets, Megalsemidse (7 peculiar genera) ; 

 cuckoos, Cuculidse ; rollers, Coraciidee ; bee-eaters, Meropidse ; 

 hornbills, Bucerotidse ; and goat-suckers, Caprimulgidoe. It is 

 poor in parrots and rather so in pigeons ; but it abounds in 

 Ptcrocles and Francolinus, genera of Gallinse, and possesses 4 

 genera of the peculiar group of the guinea-fowls, forming part of 

 the pheasant family. It abounds in vultures, eagles, and other 

 birds of prey, among which is the anomalous genus Serpentarius, 

 the secretary-bird, constituting a distinct family. Many of the 

 most remarkable forms are confined to Madagascar and the 

 adjacent islands, and will be noticed in our account of that sub- 

 region. 



Reptiles. — Of the reptiles there are 4 peculiar Ethiopian 

 families ; — 3 of snakes, Kachiodontidas, Dendraspidse, and Atrac- 

 taspidse and 1 of lizards, Chameesauridoe. 



Psammophidaj (desert snakes) are abundant, as are Lycodontidse 

 (fanged ground-snakes), and Viperidse (vipers). The following 

 genera of snakes are peculiar or highly characteristic : — Lepto- 

 rhynchus, Rhamnophis, HerpetctMops and Grayia (Colubridos) ; 

 Hopsidrophis and Bucephalus (Dendrophidse) ; Langalia (Dryo- 

 phidee) ; Pythonodipsas (Dipsadidoe) ; Boedon, Lycophidion, Holu- 

 ropliolis, Simoccphalus and Lamprophis (Lycodontidre) ; Hortulia 

 and Sanzinia (Pythonidae) ; Cyrptophis, Elapsoidca and Pcecilo- 

 phis (Elapidae) ; and Athcris (Viperidse). The following genera 



