254 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi. 



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, Musophagidse (the plantain eaters) ; Coliidai (the colies) ; 

 Leptosomidae, allied to the cuckoos ; Irrisoridae, allied to the 

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

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

 tropical regions possess several ; but Euryceros and Baj)haga, 

 liere classed with the Sturnidie, ought, perhaps, to form two 

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

 fruit-thrushes, Pycnonotidte ; flycatchers, Muscicapidie; shrikes, 

 LanidcB ; crows, Corvida3 ; starlings, SturnidK ; and weaver-birds, 

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

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

 cuckoos, Cuculidie ; rollers, Coraciidie ; bee-eaters, Meropidae ; 

 hornbills, Bucerotidi^; an. I goat-suckers, Caprimulgidai. It is 

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

 Pterodes and Francolinus, genera of Gallinae, 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 I3rey, among which is the anomalous genus Scrpcntarius, 

 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. 



Heptiles. — Of the reptiles there are 4 peculiar Ethiopian 

 families ; — 3 of snakes, Rachiodoutidffi, Dendraspida?, and Atrac- 

 taspidse and 1 of lizards, Chama3saurid;e. 



PsammophidfB (desert snakes) are abundant, as are Lycodontidse 

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

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

 rhynclms, Hhajrinojohis, HerpetdhioiJS and Grayia (Colubridse) ; 

 Hopsiclrophis and Bucephalus (UendrophidiR) ; Langalia (Dryo- 

 phidse) ; Pytlwnodipsas (Dipsadidse) ; Boeclon, Lycophidion, Holu- 

 ropliolis, Simocephalus and Lamprop)his (Lycodontidce) ; Hortulia 

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

 ;phis (Elapidai) ; and Atheris (Viperidse). The following genera 



