GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 31 



Western States. It must, however, be admitted that similar 

 difficulties present themselves in other parts of the world; for 

 example, the Keptilia of Madagascar are allied to those of South 

 America and not to those of Africa. With the single exception of 

 the oft-repeated story of the Blue Magpie of Japan, a species 

 which reappears in a slightly modified form in Spain, where it 

 may have been introduced by human agency, the Birds of Japan 

 offer no insoluble problems to the student of geographical dis- 

 tribution. 



Japan is part of the eastern subtropical or Manchurian Sub- 

 region of the Palsearctic Region, and is closely connected with the 

 mainland of that subregion by the islands in the Straits of Corea. 

 Its connection with the eastern arctic or Siberian Subregion of 

 the Palsearctic Region is equally close. The island of Sakhalien 

 forms a bridge from Yezzo to the mouth of the Amoor, whilst the 

 long chaiu of the Kurile Islands forms a second bridge to Kamt- 

 schatka. To the south the chain of the Loo-Choo Islands connects 

 it with Formosa and the Indo-Chinese Subregion of the Oriental 

 Region. 



Thus the geographical position of the Japanese Empire fully 

 explains the character of its avifauna, so far as regards the Palas- 

 arctic and Oriental species which have been found within its limits. 

 Some further explanation may, however, be given respecting the 

 species which are not known to breed elsewhere. 



So far as is known there are 49 species of birds which do not 

 breed beyond the limits of the Japanese Empire, but some of these 

 are migratory birds and wander southwards in autumn. 



The following species have been recorded in winter from Formosa 

 or South China : — Merula cardis, Phylloscopus xanthodryas, Phyllo- 

 scopus tenellipes, Cettia squamiceps, Parus varius, Emberisa sulphu- 

 rata, Nycticorax goisagi, and Phalacrocorax capillatus. 



In addition to these, Hypsipetes amaurotis and Acredula trivirgata 

 have occurred on the Corean peninsula, whilst Scolopax australis is 

 a regular winter visitor to Australia. Sturnia pyrrhogenys and 

 Chelidon dasypus winter in the Malay Archipelago. Some of these 

 species may hereafter be found breeding on the mainland, in which 

 case they must be struck off the roll of birds only known to breed 

 in the Japanese Empire. 



There still remain no fewer than 36 species of birds which have 



