248 BLEMEKTS OF OElflTHOIiOGT, 



eaters (Campophagidce), the Flower-peckers (Dicceidce), and 

 the Swallow-shrikes (Artamidce), feebly represented else- 

 wherej are most numerous here, while other groups of wide 

 distribution are here also most variously and richly developed. 

 Amongst these are the Weaver-finches, those exaggerated Goat- 

 suckers called " frog-mouths " or " more-porks" (Fodargidce), the 

 Pigeons, and the Kingfishers. 



Two fifths of the genera of Pigeons are found in this region, 

 as well as the most beautiful and remarkable forms. Amongst 

 the latter is the Crowned Pigeon (Goura) and Diduncidus. The 

 cosmopolitan family of Kingfishers, which includes some 

 nineteen genera, has no less than ten of them peculiar to the 

 Australian region. 



The remarkable family of Honey-suckers (Meliphagidci) is 

 very characteristic of the region, over the whole of which it 

 ranges, abounding in genera and species ; and the peculiar 

 Broad-tailed Parrakeets adorn it by thier gorgeous plumage. 



But the absence of other forms from the Australian region is 

 no less remarkable. Thus there are no Pheasants *, which are 

 so remarkably characteristic of the adjacent Indian region, 

 while the specially Oriental Grreen Bulbuls (Ohloropsis) are 

 also wanting, and the same is the case with the elsewhere 

 widespread Vultures (Vulturidai) and Barbets (Megalamidce), 

 The generally abundant Thrushes {Turdidm) are few, while of 

 the three hundred species of Woodpeckers (Picidce) only four or 

 five penetrate from the Indian region as far as Lombock, 

 Celebes, and very few Pyenonotidce reach the Moluccas. 



The Papuan subregion is characterized especially by its 

 Birds of Paradise, whicli (save those in Australia) are not 

 found out of it. The northern and western parts of the sub- 

 region have a considerable mixture of Oriental forms. Thus 

 Timor and the islands grouped round it share about thirty 

 genera with the Indian region, and thirty with the continent 

 of Australia. Celebes has about one hundred and fifty genera, 

 with ninety peculiar species of land-birds. Of those which are 

 not peculiar, about fifty-flve have been estimated t to be Indian 

 and twenty-two Australian. 



JVew Guinea, the Aru Islands, and New Britain are remark- 

 able as the all hut exclusive home of the Cassowaries ; one only 



* There is a Jungle-fowl in Celebes, which was perhaps introduced by 

 man. 

 t By the late Lord Tweeddale, long known as Lord Walden. 



