68 



A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



very remarkable forms, indicating a long and complete isolation 

 for the areas here included. It is made up of the large island 

 of Madagascar, and the adjacent Mascarene Islands— Reunion, 

 Mauritius and Rodriguez, and the islands to the north, including 



^ 



'^\1- 



III. i6. — The Whale-headed Stork (Balceniceps) 



the Seychelles. Of living and extinct birds the islands included 

 in this sub-region possess a richer collection of distinct and 

 peculiar types than any other region in the world, on which 



