242 ELEMENTS OT OENITHOIOGT. 



ing of birds in geographical regions. Nevertheless this diffi- 

 culty is obviated by the rule that the breeding-place of a bird 

 is always to be considered as its real home. 



The absence of any considerable or significant Ornithological 

 group is often as important and as interesting a character as is 

 constituted by its presence in some other region, and it may be 

 much more interesting and important if the group thus missing 

 is otherwise cosmopolitan or nearly so. 



The Pal^iaeotio Ebgion is one in which it is very difficult to 

 indicate characteristic forms as present, though it would be easy 

 enough to enumerate extensive groups elsewhere to be found 

 which are absent from it. Thus there are no Parrots, no 

 Humming-birds, no Hornbills, no Toucans, &c., &c. But to 

 enumerate such absent forms would be an idle task. Their 

 absence will be noted in recording the presence of such bird- 

 groups in other regions. On the other hand, the number of 

 birds of the Palsearctic region which are also found in North 

 America is very great, there being at least 128 genera common 

 to both these territories, including Thrushes, Crossbills, Mag- 

 pies, Goatsuckers, Woodpeckers, Swallows, Snowy Owls, Jer- 

 faleons, and a multitude of other kinds. Waxwings, Magpies, 

 Snowy Owls, Jer-falcons, Crossbills are just as characteristic of 

 the Nearetic region ; but the Goatsuckers and Woodpeckers are 

 of a different type in the two regions. 



Almost the only group which may be said to characterize the 

 Palsearctic region positively, is that to which the Bearded Tit- 

 mouse (Panurus biarmicus) belongs (but its species are very 

 widely diffused through it from East to West). The true Haw- 

 finches {Ooccoihraiistes) are also characteristic. Of course it has 

 peculiar genera and species. The most conspicuous is the 

 Capercailzie, but many Pinches and Buntings are confined to it. 



As to the subdivisions of the Palsearctic region, the European 

 subregion — which consists of Europe north of the Pyrenees, 

 Alps, Balkans, to the Caucasus and Asia north of the desert-tract 

 of Central Asia, and including the northern island of Japan — 

 has an abundance of ' Grouse, Capercailzie, Hazel-hen, Black- 

 game, and plenty of peculiar Buntings, Warblers, and Pinches 

 — notably Ooccothraustes. The genus Eurynorhynchus is .peculiar 

 to Siberian lands. 



The other division, the Mediterraneo-Persie subregion — which 

 extends from Europe south of the Pyrenees, Alps, &c., to 

 the Amoor — has many peculiar Chats and Shrikes, and it 



