CHAr. XI.] THE ETHIOPIAN KEGIOX. 281 



peculiar species of Pratincola, IlypsiiKtes, Phcdina, Tchitrca, 

 Zostcrops, Fovdia, CoUocrtlia, and Coracopsis ; while Arauritiiis lias 

 a very peculiar form of dove of the sub-genus Trocaza ; an Alcc- 

 trivnas, extinct within the last thirty years ; and a species of the 

 Oriental genus of parrocpiets, Pahvornis. The small and remote 

 island of Rodriguez has another Palccornis, as well as a peculiar 

 Fouclia, and a Drymceca of apparently Indian affinity. 



Coming to the Seychelle Islands, far to the north, we find the 

 only mammal an Indian species of bat {Ptcropus cdwardsii). Of 

 the twelve laud-birds all but one are peculiar species, but all belong 

 to genera foTind also in ]\Iadagascar, except one — a peculiar species 

 of Pdavniis. This is an Oriental genus, but found also in several 

 IMascarene Islands and on the African continent. A species of 

 black parrot (Corarnpsis harl.Iajp) and a weaver l)ird of peculiar 

 type (Fondia scijchdlarum) show, liowever, a decided connection 

 with ]\Iadagascar. There are also two peculiar pigeons — a short- 

 winged Tiirtiir and an Alecfrccnas. 



Most of the birds of the Comoro Islands are IMadagascar spe- 

 cies, only two Ijeing African. Five are peculiar, belonging to the 

 genera NcctariRia, Zostcrops, Dicriirvs, Fondia, and Ahxtranias. 



Reptiles are scarce. There ap])ear to be no snakes in Mauri- 

 tius and Enurlwn, though some African species are said to be 

 found in the Seychelle Islands. Lizards are fairly represented. 

 ]\Iauritius has Cryptohlcpharvs, an Australian genus of Gymno- 

 pthalmidie ; Hrmidadyhis (a wide-spread genus) ; Percpus 

 (Oriental and Australian) — both belonging to the Geckotidse. 

 Bourbon has Hdcropus, a JMoluecan and Australian genus of 

 Scincidffi; Phdsuma (Geckotida?), and C]iamdeo,\ioi\\ found also 

 in Madagascar ; as well as Pyxis, one of the tortoises. The 

 Seychelles have TJifcouy.r, a peculiar genus of Geckotidie, and 

 Chamdeo. Gigantic land-tortoises, which formerly inhabited 

 most of the Mascarene Islands, now only survive in Aldabra, a 

 small island north of the Seychelles. These will be noticed 

 again further on. Amphibia seem only to be recorded from the 

 Seychelles, where two genera of tree-frogs of the family Poly- 

 pedatidte are found ; one {McfjrdiraJvs) peculiar, the other 

 {Bappia) found also in Madagascar and Africa, 



