22 ON THE GEOGRAPHY OP ANIMALS. 



their species, have a more restricted distrihution than 

 the nocturnal ; yet, of these, the eagles enjoy no incon. 

 siderable range : of four discovered in Europe, one 

 is more properly Arctic, three have been found in several 

 parts of Africa, and one occurs in America, leaving 

 three only to Europe. It is singular that those rapa- 

 cious birds which, from the peculiar structure of their 

 wings, have been supposed to enjoy the greatest power 

 of flight among their congeners, should nevertheless 

 have a much more limited range. This is proved by the 

 fact, that,, of eight genuine falcons inhabiting Europe 

 and Northern Africa, two only have been discovered in 

 America. It has, however, recently been stated, that 

 the peregrine falcon of Australia is absolutely the same 

 as that of Europe. Among the numerous species of 

 falcon in Southern Africa, not one occurs in Europe: 

 the European kestril, long confounded with the mon- 

 tagnard of Le Vaillant, being a decidedly distinct 

 species. Upon the whole, the distribution of the forty- 

 four European birds of prey appears to be thus regulated : 

 — three are more properly Arctic ; eleven are found also 

 in America, two in Asia and Africa, and one in Asia 

 and America ; leaving twenty-seven, or more than one 

 half, as characteristic of European ornithology. 



(28.) The gallinaceous genera are few. Their wide 

 dispersion is decidedly against the theory, that all birds^ 

 with heavy bodies and short wings, are more Mmited 

 in their geographic range than other terrestrial tribes. 

 This argument has been ingeniously made use of, to ac- 

 count for the very restricted Umits nature has imposed 

 upon the greater number of Indian parrots ; many 

 species, as it is stated, being confined to particular 

 islands. We must not, however, expect to find a reason 

 for every thing : in the present instance, the above con- 

 clusion is particularly erroneous. Ornithologists, indeed, 

 need not be told, that the wings of nearly the whole of 

 the parrot family are peculiarly adapted for strong and 

 vigorous flight; whUe those who have contemplated 



