CHAP. XIII.] TilE A I'STU.UJAX REGION. 445 



that the number will be very largely increased. 8ome of the 

 species, as the Eiuhjnamis taitensis and Tatarc lonr/irostris, range 

 over 40° of longitude, from the Fiji Islands to the Marquesas. In 

 other genera, as Ci/anoramj^Jifi-S and Ptilopus, each important 

 island or group of islands, has its peculiar species. The connec- 

 tion of all these islands with each other, on the one hand, and 

 their close relation to tlie Australian region, on the other, are 

 equally apparent ; but we have no sufficient materials for specu- 

 lating with any success, on the long series of changes that have 

 brought about their existing condition, as regards their peculiar 

 forms of animal life. 



Sandwich Islands. — This somewhat extensive group of large 

 islands, is only known to contain 11 genera and 18 species of 

 indigenous land-birds ; and even of this small number, two birds 

 of prey are wide ranging species, Avhich may well have reached the 

 islands during tlieir present isolated condition. These latter are, 

 Strix delicatnla, an owl spread over Austi'alia and tlie raeiiic ; 

 and Asio acci]jitrrin(s,a species which has reached the Galapagos 

 from S. America, and thence perhaps the Sandwich Islands. Of 

 the remaining 8 genera, one is a crow {Coriuis hauviicnsls), and 

 another a fishing eagle {Fandioii solitarhbx), of peculiar species ; 

 leaving 7 genera, which are all (according to JNIr. Sclater) peculiar. 

 First we have Chasicmpis, a genus of Muscicapidre, containing 

 two species (whicli may however belong to distinct genera) ; and 

 as the entire family is unknown on the American continent 

 these birds must almost certainly l»e allied to some of the 

 numerous jNIuscicapine forms of the Australian region. Next 

 we have tlie purely Australian family jMeliphagidiC, represented 

 by two genera, — Moho, an isolated form, and Chcvtoptila, a genus 

 established by Mr. Sclater for a bird before classed in Entomyza, 

 an Australian group. The four remaining genera are believed 

 by Mr. Sclater to belong to one group, the I)rei»anididfe, altogether 

 confined to the Sandwich Islands. Two of tliem, Drejmnis and 

 Hemujnathvs, with three species each, are undoubtedly allied ; 

 the other two, Loxops and Fsitlirosfra, have usually been classed 

 as finches. The former seem to approach the Dicicida^ ; and all 

 resemble this group in their coloration. 



