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Mclaiio-Polynesiii, consisting- of New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, New Hebrides, Banks' and 

 Santa Cruz Islands , foi^ms an intimately connected division in itself with links of relationship extending in so 

 many directions to other subregions that it is questionable if it should be retained in Polynesia. The peculiar 

 genera are six: Nymphicus, Megalurulus, Physocorax, Drepanoptila, Phacnorhina, Rhinochetus. 

 Only one Polynesian genus, Leptornis, which also belongs to Fiji and Samoa, is found in addition to the 

 almost entirely Polynesian form, Aplonis. The last-named is also found on the islands of the New Zealand 

 subregion, Norfolk and Lord Howe; and further links in this direction may be seen in Cyanorhamphus of 

 Now Zealand and Eastern Polynesin, and in Synimorphus, which only occurs, outside the territory now under 

 consideration, on Norfolk Island. Two genera, Charmosyna (also found in Fiji) and Eclectus (New 

 Caledonia?) are characteristic of Papuasia; Eopsaltria, of Australia. In addition to these there are 40 

 more or less widely spread genera (exclusive of sea-birds) connecting the division in question with Polynesia 



on tho one hand and with the other Australasian subre 



glons, Indo -Malaya, etc., on the other; while 17 



18 



more serve to bind it to Australia and Austro- Malaya without passing into Polynesia on the other side. It 

 will thus be seen that the district, which we have called Melano-Polynesia, occupies a very uncertain position, 

 having relationships on all sides with the subregions between which it lies. It appears to have served as a 

 half-way resting-place, so to say, for many species descending into it from Papuasia by way of the Solomon 

 Islands or crossing directly to it from Australia, individuals of which species, having afterwards become crowded 

 out of their luirrow quarters by reason of a too great fertility, found their way to Central Polynesia, 

 Norfolk Island, etc., to become developed into new forms. Here may be mentioned the remarkable preventative 

 of a too rapid multiplication of birds in the Pacific islands; namely, that so many of the Passeres lay only 

 one egg, a fa.ct which I shall hope to treat of in a special paper. 



Melano-Polynesia is, therefore, to be included in Polynesia only as an intermediate station, aland 

 of transition wlicnce most of tlie Australian and Papuan genera of the South Sea Islands have probably been 

 derived. The number of species now known is 158-166, of which 87 — 90 are peculiar to the division. New- 

 Caledonia has 110, with 23 — 25 autochthonous; the Loyalty IsLuids 53, 11 autochthonous; tho New Hebrides 

 73, 28—30 autochthonous; 8 arc known from the Santa Cruz Islands of which 2-4 are confined to them, 

 and 4, 2 peculiar, from the Banks' Islands. 6 species arc confined to New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and 

 New Hebrides; 3 to New Caledonia and the New Hebrides; 9 to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands; 

 2 to the latter and the New Hebrides; 2 to the New Hebrides and Banks' Is.; 1 to the New Hebrides and 

 Santa Cru/ , and one, Ptilopus grcyi, to the whole division. No peculiar species connect the Sta Cruz 

 Islands with the Solomon Islands (except, perhaps, Halcyon juliae, wliich is common to the Solomon Islands 

 and the New Hebrides), but one serves as a link between them and Eiji. Oacomantis simus is common to 

 the New Hebrides and Fiji. Altogothei" about 91 genera are represented in Melano-Polynesia. 



In Central Polynesia 149—155 species and subspecies belonging to 70 genera are known. Peculiar 

 division are 91 — 93 species and subspecies and 9 genera, viz.: Fyrrhulopsis, Muscylva, 



to this 



Pinarolestos, Lamprolia, Drymochaera, Trichocichla, Chrysoena, Pareudiastes and Didunculus. 

 The species are distributed as follows: Fiji, with Rotumah and Fotuna, 117—121 ; Tonga, with Niuafou, 42 — 49; 



Autochthonous species: Fiji, 59; Tonga, 4; Samoa, 15-16; 



5. 



lavage Id., 2 — 3. 



are P o m area 



nigra 



and 



Samoa, with Uea, 55—57; Savage Island 4 



Eight species which are peculiar to two or all three of the island groups, and the presence 

 of numerous subspecies, serve to establish the unity of this division in itself; while Coriphilus, Todiramphus 

 and Leptornis are Polynesian forms which connect it with other divisions. The islands are, for the most 

 part, of volcanic origin and mountainous. Others are of raised coral. 



The groups which Inive been designated Eastern Polynesia possess only two peculiar genera, 

 1 inaroloxias and Serresius, but, at the same lime, are connected with other quarters by the Polynesian 

 forms Coriphilus , Todiramphus and Tat are. Other striking species 

 Monarch a dimidiata, the latter of whicli has been placed by Dr. Sharpe in the genus Chasiempis of 

 the Sandwich Islands. The number of species as yet recorded from this division is 82 — 87 belonging to 

 about 43 genera. Forty one species, including a doubtful one, are peculiar. For the several groups the 

 numbers run as f(»llows: Hervey Islands, 15, with 3 or 4 peculiar; Austral Island, 1 or 2, 1 peculiar; Society 

 Islands 40— 42, 14; Paumotu Islands, 25, 5; Marquesas Islands, 31, 7; Peurhyn Islands, 1, 0; Fanning Group, 

 28, 3 or 4. Four species are peculiar to the Society and Manjuesas Islands; two to the former and the Paumotu 

 Islands. The remote Fanning Group is connected with this division by means of a species of Phegornis, 

 — the only South American genus that has found its way into Polynesia, — P. cancellatus, which is 



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