100 MAMMALS AND BIRDS OF AFRICA. [CH. II 



chimpanzee. The Ethiopian region contains the majority 

 of the antelopes; but in contrast to this abundance of 

 antelopes is the total absence of deer. Another group 

 which might be expected to occur, but which is in- 

 explicably absent, is that of the beajs. -The hippopotamus 

 is represented by two species, one of which, the small 

 Liberian hippopotamus, has been placed in a distinct 

 genus, Choeropotamw. This proceeding however according 

 to Sir William Flower is unnecessary. The Lemurs, 

 which form so characteristic a part of the fauna of this 

 region, are nearly all of them limited to Madagascar — as 

 indeed are many of the peculiar Ethiopian genera. They 

 have been treated of in the more particular account which 

 I give elsewhere (below) of the fauna of Madagascar. One 

 or two resemblances between Africa and the Neotropical 

 region have been noted under the account of the latter. 

 Most of the resemblances of Africa are with the Oriental 

 region. Thus the hornbills and barbets range through 

 both regions, as do the panther and lion. The elephant 

 and rhinoceros are only found in the Oriental region 

 outside of the Ethiopian; but the species, and even, 

 according to some systejnatists, the genera are different 

 in the two cases. 



Among birds, the huge whale-bill (Balceniceps) is one of 

 the most remarkable of African types. Its ally, the hammer- 

 head (Scopus), which seems to stand half-way between 

 the Herons and Storks, is a widely-spread African type. 

 The ground hornbill, which is undoubtedly a hornbill,. 

 though a very aberrant one, is almost equally singular. 

 The colies and plantain eaters (Coliidae and Musophagidae). 



