28 



ZOOLOGICAL 



ARTAMID.E (Swallow Shrikes; 22 Species). Plate 11, Map iii. 

 These birds, divided into two genera, are of somewhat doubtful affinity. 

 The genus Pseudochelidon contains a single species, which is confined to the 

 Gaboon district in Western Tropical Africa. Nine species of the typical 

 genus Artamus are peculiar to Australia and Tasmania ; one is found in the 

 Indian Peninsula and Ceylon, while the rest are scattered over the Oriental 

 and Australian Regions as far east as the Fiji Islands. They are woodland 

 birds, and from the peculiar nature of their flight are sometimes called 

 " Wood-Swallows." 



AMPELIOa; (Waxwings ; 10 Species). Plate 11, Map iii. 



Of the ten known species of this family eight are confined to the New 

 World, and one to the Old. The best-known of these, the Bohemian Wax- 

 wing (Ampelis garrulus), is common to the Arctic and Subarctic regions 

 of both Hemispheres. Breeding near the Arctic circle it visits our shores 

 occasionally in winter, sometimes in large flocks. Three out of the five 

 genera of Waxwings, with six species, are confined to Central America and 

 the island of San Domingo. 



VntEONnXE (Vireos or Greenlets ; 122 Species). Plate 11, Map iv. 



These birds, which are allied to the Shrikes, are peculiar to the New 

 World, but have there a wide range. Half-a-dozen genera are recognised, 

 the typical one (Vireo) containing about half the known species and all the 

 North American representatives. Most of these birds are of a greenish or 

 olive tint, hence their popular name of " Greenlets." They are lovers of the 

 forest, and are found up to 10,000 feet elevation. 



SYLVIIDJE (Warblers ; 521 Species). Plate 11, Map iv. 



This family, although so numerous in species, is confined to the Old 

 World, with the exception of a single form which visits Alaska. In the 

 Old World they are found practically everywhere, but are entirely absent 

 from New Zealand. At least a score of species may be included as British, 

 the great majority of which are purely summer visitants. Among the more 

 familiar may be mentioned the Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcap, 

 Willow Wren, Wood Wren, Chiffchaff, and the Reed-, Marsh-, Sedge-, and 

 Garden-Warblers. The members of this huge family are with difficulty 

 separated from the Thrushes and their allies (Turdidse). They are more 

 addicted to migration, however, and their diet is more purely insectivorous. 



TURDID-ffi (Thrushes, Chats, &c. ; 598 Species). Plate 11, Map iv. 



This family, although little larger than the Sylviidee as regards the 

 number of species, is much more heterogeneous. This is evidenced by the 

 fact that the genera, practically the same in number as the Sylviidse, are 

 grouped into no fewer than nine sub-families. As seen from our Map, 

 the family as a whole is cosmopolitan in its distribution, ranging well into 

 the Arctic regions, and containing representatives in such remote places as 

 the Sandwich Islands and Tristan da Cunha. Australia and New Zealand 

 are very deficient in representatives, only possessing eight and two species 

 respectively. About 20 species find a place on the British list, including 

 some of our most familiar birds. The Mistletoe Thrush, Song Thrush, Black- 

 bird, Hedge Accentor and Redbreast, are all well-known residents, while 

 almost equally familiar are the Fieldfare and Redwing, which are winter 

 visitants, and the Ring-Ouzel, Redstart, Whinchat, and Wheatear, which 

 come to us in the summer. 



The distribution of the Accentors, which form one of the sub-families of 

 Turdidse, is shown separately on the same Map. Only two genera are 

 known, with 19 species. The Hedge Accentor, mentioned above, is the 

 most familiar species, a second, known as the Alpine Accentor, only rarely 

 visiting Britain. 



MIMIDiE (Mocking-Birds ; 75 Species). Plate 11, Map v. 



The Mocking Birds, of which there are 14 genera, are entirely confined 

 to the New World. The best-known species is Mimus polyglottus, whose 

 powers of imitation are well-known to the inhabitants of the United States. 

 The genus Nesomimus is of interest, since it is composed of 11 species 

 which are entirely confined to the Galapagos Islands. Four genera, with 

 eight species, are peculiar to the West Indies. 



CINCLIDjE (Dippers ; 26 Species). Plate 11, Map v. 



The Dippers, sometimes called Water-Ouzels, have a peculiar distribution, 

 frequenting mountain streams in the Palsearctic Region, the western part of 

 the Nearctic Region, and the Andean slopes in South America. About 

 half-a-dozen forms occur in Europe, and one is a resident in Britain, especi- 

 ally in the northern and western portions. They are interesting little birds, 

 often seen bobbing up and down on stones in the water, and occasionally 

 diving in after aquatic insects and molluscs. All the Dippers are placed in 

 one genus (Cinchis), 



TPvOGLODYTID^: (Wrens ; 285 Species). Plate 11, Map vi. 



The Wrens are a large and widely-distributed group, with 22 genera. 

 The great majority of the species are found in Tropical America, while 

 strangely enough they are entirely absent from the Ethiopian Region. Only 

 about a dozen are found in the Palsearctic Region, while the Oriental is 

 equally deficient in representatives. The Common Wren {Troglodytes 

 troglodytes) is a common and familiar resident in Britain, while the forms 

 occurring in St Kilda, the Faroes and Iceland are usually regarded as dis- 

 tinct and peculiar races. 



TIMELIID^I (Babbling-Thrushes, &c. ; 635 Species). Plate 11, Map vi. 



This is a large and heterogeneous family, whose limits are as yet vague 

 and uncertain. Half-a-dozen distinct sub-families may be recognised, with 

 more than 120 genera. These birds are confined to the Old World, and are 

 especially characteristic of the Oriental Region. Australia and Tasmania 

 possess 26 species, New Zealand only four, while the sole representatives in 

 Europe are two species of Panurus. The latter are the so-called " Bearded 

 Tits," one of which is resident in a few counties of England. Their 

 location in the present family is somewhat doubtful and they are sometimes 

 placed in a family to themselves. 



PYCNONOTID^l (Bulbuls ; 291 Species). Plate 11, Map vi. 



Bulbuls are especially numerous in the Oriental Region, but are also 

 well represented in the Ethiopian, ranging over the whole of Africa and 

 Madagascar. A single species enters Europe, occurring in the Cyclades 

 Archipelago, and this belongs to the typical genus Pycnonotus. On account 

 of its sweet song and interesting habits, the Gold-fronted Green Bulbul 

 (Chloropsis aurifrons), an Indian species, is a favourite cage-bird. 



CAMPOPHAGID.E (Cuckoo-Shrikes ; 196 Species). Plate 12, Map i. 



This is a characteristic Oriental and Australian family, but it also 

 possesses a few representatives in the Ethiopian Region. Twelve genera are 

 recognised, the typical one (Gampophaga) containing most of the African 

 species. Australia only possesses nine species, and the Pakearctic Region 

 only three, one of which is confined to Japan, and a second to the Liu Kiu 

 Islands. 



MUSCICAPID£! (Flycatchers ; 796 Species). Plate 12, Map i. 



Excluding the single genus Polioptila, whose distribution is shown 

 separately on our Map, the Flycatchers are exclusively inhabitants of the 

 Old World Nearly a hundred genera have been differentiated, whose 

 species exhibit great variety of form and plumage. The Oriental and 

 Australian Regions are particularly rich in these birds; the Palsearctic, on 

 the other hand, very deficient. The handsomest members of the family are 

 the so-called "Paradise Flycatchers' (Terpsiphone), owing their beauty 

 largely to their wonderfully long tail-feathers and their crested heads. Two 

 species occur in Britain as regular summer visitants, namely, the Spotted 

 and the Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisolq and atricapilla). 



The American Flycatchers, sometimes called Gnatcatchers, are sometimes 

 regarded as constituting a separate sub-family (Polioptilinse). About two 

 dozen species are known, which occur within the limits shown on our Map. 



HIRUNDINIDiE (Swallows and Martins ; 143 Species). Plate 12, Map ii. 



This family is remarkable, not only for its wide range as a whole, but 

 also for the vast extent covered by many of the species through their 

 migratory habits. Thus the Common Swallow {Hirundo rustica) ranges 

 northwards of the Arctic Circle in summer, while the winter is passed in 

 Africa, India, China, and the Malay Peninsula. Thirteen genera have been 

 described, three of which are peculiar to the New World, two to Africa, 

 and one to Australia. New Zealand, curiously enough, does not possess 

 any representatives. Three species occur commonly in Britain as summer 

 visitants, namely, the Common Swallow {Hirundo rustica), the House- 

 Martin (Chelidonaria urbica) and the Sand-Martin (Clivicola riparia). 



ATRICHORNITHID^l (Scrub-Birds ; 2 Species). Plate 12, Map ii. 



This small group contains only two species, namely, Atrichomis clamosa, 

 confined to Western Australia, and A. rufescens found only in New South 

 Wales. They are described as very shy birds, inhabiting dense scrub (hence 

 their popular name). Little is recorded of their habits. 



XENICIDiE (Xenicus and Allies ; 6 Species). Plate 12, Map ii. 



These birds, for which no general popular name can be used, are entirely 

 confined to New Zealand. Three genera are distinguished, the two species 

 of Xenicus being found only in the South Island, where they are known as 

 the "Bush Wren" and the "Rock Wren" respectively. 



PHILEPITTID.E (Philepitta ; 2 Species). Plate 12, Map ii. 



The two species forming this family are confined to the island of 

 Madagascar. In general appearance they remind one of the Pittas, but in 

 habit they are more arboreal. Both belong to a single genus, Philepitta, 

 which gives its name to the family. 



PITTID.S (Pittas ; 69 Species). Plate 12, Map iii. 



The Pittas have, a very remarkable distribution, the great majority of the 

 species being found in the Malay Archipelago. A single species, known as 

 Pitta angolensis, inhabits the forest regions of Tropical Africa, far removed 

 from its allies, and offering one of the best-known examples of what is 

 known as "discontinuous distribution." Two species are found in Australia, 

 one of which occurs also in New Guinea. Only one occurs in the 

 peninsula of India and Ceylon, while three find a home in the Eastern 

 Himalayas. The Pittas, sometimes called Old World Ant-Thrushes, are 

 beautiful birds with bright plumage, crimson, green and blue being pre- 

 dominant colours. 





