289 
one-sixteenth of the total number of known birds, estimated at 
12,000 species. 
The ACCIPITRES of Australia number about 40 species 
out of a total of 600, chiefly of the Family Falcondide. 
The Srricipm are not numerous, and the VULTURID# are 
not represented at all. The most noticeable species in this 
Order are of the sub-genera Gypoictimia and Lophoctinia. 
The Order VOLITORES, or the FISSTROSTRES, is well 
represented in some of its families; thus, the CAPRIMULGIDE 
number nearly 20 species, chiefly of the Australian genus 
Podargus, and the ALCEDINIDE# about 15 species, those of 
the genus Dacelo—generally known as “ Laughing Jackasses,” 
from their peculiar cry—being of large size and peculiar to the 
Australian region. There are five species only of the Hirun- 
DINID#, and one of the CypsELIDm. A species of Hurystomus 
and a Jerops are also found in the country, both summer 
visitants from New Guinea. The families Caprronipm, 
Bucerotipe#, Troconipa, Trocuitipm, &e. are entirely 
unknown. 
The Order PICI is also unknown in Australia. The 
SCANSORES are represented by the CucuLipa#, of which 
Family there are 15 species, and some of the genera, such as 
Scythrops, Eudynamys and Centropus, ave confined to the 
Australian region. The Order PSITTACT is distinguished 
for the variety and beauty of the Australian species. They 
number 70 out of a total of 560 species, or one-eighth of 
those of the whole world. Among the Cockatoos the genus 
Calyptorhynchus, or the Black Cockatoos, are the most ‘char- 
acteristic forms. Among the Parrots the most populous genera 
are Platycercus, Psephotus, and /iphemia. 
The Order PASSERES occupy in Australia, as in all the 
rest of the world, the most important position as regards 
numbers. Many families of them, familiar objects in other 
parts of the world, are here wanting, and those which are 
represented here are for the most part of distinct genera. 
The NEcTaRINIDA count only 1 Dicewn and 1 Cinnyris. 
The Mrripuacips, on the contrary, are a Family peculiar 
to Australia, seeming to occupy the position of the Trochilide 
in America and the Nectarimida: of Asia. They are very 
numerous, consisting of 19 genera and nearly 200 species. 
The genus Ptilotis is the most numerous and most typical of 
the group. 
The Cerruip# and Sirrrp# are represented bya few species 
of Climacteris, Orthonyx, and Sittella. The Prrripm consist 
of one genus only, Pitta; four species are Australian, the 
others belong to the tropical regions north of Australia. Under 
the Family of Or1toLipa may be classed a numver ot truly 
Australian Genera, including the singular Bower Bird, several 
