CTiAP. XII.] THE ORIENTAL REGION. 339 



(Columbidfie), and the plieasants (Phasianidie), which are fairly- 

 represented by sucli fine genera as Trcron, Ptilopus, Euplocamits, 

 and Argusianus. A few forms whose affinities are Australian 

 rather than Oriental, help to give a character to the ornithology, 

 thovigh none of them are numerous. The swallow-shrikes 

 {Artamus); the wag-tail fly-catchers {Rhipidura); the green fruit- 

 doves {Ptiloims) ; and the mound-makers {Megcipodius), are the 

 chief of these. 



There are a few curious examples of remote geographical 

 alliances that may be noted. First, we have a direct African 

 connection in MaclKxrhamphus, a genus of hawks, and Bcrenicornis, 

 a genus of hornbills ; the only close allies being, in the former 

 case in South, and in the latter in West Africa. Then we have 

 a curious Neotropical affinity, indicated by Carpococcyx, a large 

 Bornean ground-cuckoo, wliosB neirast ally is the genus Nco- 

 onoipkus of South America; and hy the lovely green-coloured 

 Galypiomena which seems unmistakably allied to the orano-e- 

 coloured Bupir.ola, or " Cock of the rock," in general structure 

 and in the remarkable form of crest, a resemblance which has 

 been noticed by m.i.ny writers. 



In the preceding enumeration of Malayan genera several 

 are included which extend into the Austro-Malay Islands, our 

 object, at present, being to show the differences and relations of 

 the two chief Oriental sub-regions. 



Plate IX. A Malayan Forest tvith some of its peculiar Birds. — 

 Our second illustration of the Malayan fauna is devoted to its 

 bird-life ; and for this purpose we place our scene in the IMalay 

 peninsula, whei-e birds are perhaps more abundant and more 

 interesting, than in any other part of the sub-region. Con- 

 spicuous in the foreground is the huge Ehinoceros Hornbill 

 {Buceros rhinoceros), one of the most characteristic birds of the 

 Malayan forests, the flapping of whose wings, as it violently 

 beats the air to support its heavy body, may be heard a mile 

 off. On the ground behind, is the Argus pheasant [Arym- 

 ianus yigantcus) whose beautifully ocellated wings have been 

 the subject of a most interesting description in Mr. Darwin's 

 Descent of Man. The wing-feathers are here so enormously 



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