ZOOLOGICAL 



3i 



CYPSELID.E (Swifts ; 100 Species). Plate 14, Map ii. 



These interesting birds are essentially aerial in habit, spending most of 

 the day in flight and seldom alighting on the ground or perching until night 

 fall. They are usually divided into three sub-families, as given in our Map, 

 where the distribution of each is shown separately. The typical sub-family 

 {Gypselinse) is of world-wide distribution, with representatives in every 

 region. In this group is placed the familiar British species, known as the 

 Common Swift (Cypselus apus), a summer visitor of almost universal distri- 

 bution in our islands. The Micropteryginse, which are known as Tree-Swifts, 

 comprise seven species, inhabiting the Oriental and Australian Regions, 

 and all belonging to a single genus (Micropieryx). The Chseturinse include 

 three genera, two of which (Chsetura and Cypseloides) may be called Spine- 

 tailed Swifts, from the fact that their tails are provided with rigid feathers, 

 having projecting spring shafts. Chsetura pelagica is the so-called " Chimney 

 Swallow" of the United States. Collocalia, containing 18 species, is of 

 special interest, inasmuch as some of its members build the well-known 

 edible birds' nests. 



TROCHILIDJE (Humming-Birds ; 570 Species). Plate 14, Map iii. 



These interesting and beautiful little creatures are essentially in- 

 habitants of the great tropical forests of the Brazilian Sub-Region. A few 

 species, however, occur in North America, one even ranging as far north, 

 in summer, as Alaska. Two species are found in the island of Juan 

 Fernandez, and about 20 in the West Indies. Southwards they range to 

 Tierra del Fuego, where one species is found even in snowy weather. 

 Several range to a remarkably high altitude in the Andes, where particular 

 mountains have species peculiar to them. No fewer than 118 genera of 

 Humming-Birds have been described. They are almost entirely insecti- 

 vorous, taking their food on the wirig or from flowers, in front of which 

 they may be seen hovering, darting away suddenly with remarkable swift- 

 ness. This family includes some of the smallest known birds, and most of 

 the species are adorned with brilliant metallic plumage. 



COLIID^ (Golies ; 14 Species). Plate 14, Map iii. 



These birds, sometimes called Mouse Birds, are entirely confined to 

 Tropical and South Africa, and form only a single genus (Colius). They 

 inhabit forest districts and feed principally, though not exclusively, on berries 

 and fruits. In external appearance they are somewhat finch-like, the most 

 remarkable feature to the ordinary observer being that their four toes are 

 all directed forward, giving the feet a curious appearance. 



ORDER PSITTACIFORMES (580 Species). 



NESTORIDiE (Nestor Parrots ; 4 Species). Plate 14, Map iv. 



This small family, including only a single genus, is confined to New 

 Zealand. The best-known species is that called by the Maories the " Kea " 

 {Nestor notabilis). This is restricted to the South Island, and is remarkable 

 for its carnivorous habits, attacking sheep by alighting upon their backs 

 and tearing open the flesh until the kidneys are reached, upon the fat of 

 which it feeds greedily. This destructive habit is said to have arisen since 

 sheep were introduced into the island. Another species familiar to the 

 Maories is the " Kaka " (N. meridionalis), which feeds on fruits and insects. 



LOPJIDJE (Lories and Loriquets ; 87 Species). Plate 14, Map iv. 



The Lories and their allies are confined to the Australian Region, the 

 majority of the species (about 70) being natives of New Guinea and the 

 neighbouring islands, while nine occur in Australia and Tasmania, and eight 

 in the more remote islands of Polynesia. Fourteen genera of these parrots 

 have been differentiated, and most of the species are clad in bright and 

 beautiful colours. The principal genera are Trichoglossus, with 16 species, 

 Eos with 15, and Lorius, with 13. They live on the nectar and pollen 

 which they extract from flowers. 



CYCLOPSITTACID.E (23 Species). Plate 14, Map v. 



This family contains a number of small fruit-eating Parrots, the majority 

 of which are confined to New Guinea and the small adjacent islands, but 

 Eastern Australia possesses two and Timor likewise two. Only two genera 

 are known, containing nineteen and four species respectively. The prevailing 

 colours of these Parrots are red, green, blue and yellow. 



CACATUID^l (Cockatoos ; 30 Species). Plate 14, Map v. 



At the present day Cockatoos are confined to the Australian Region, 

 with the exception of a single species, which inhabits the Philippine Islands. 

 It is interesting to note, however, that the remains of an extinct form have 

 been found in the distant island of Mauritius. Seven genera have been 

 described, the typical one (Cacatua) containing 17 species. From the true 

 Parrots (Family Psittacidse), which have a remarkably wide distribution, 

 Cockatoos may be readily distinguished by the presence of a crest of feathers 

 on the head. In coloration also they are very different, the prevailing 

 tints bein« white, grey, brown and black, while the green so characteristic 

 of true Parrots is conspicuous by its absence. 



PSITTAOIDJE (Typical Parrots ; 434 Species). Plate 14, Map vi. 



The Psittacidse are an important group, with representatives in all the 

 zoogeographical regions except the Palsearctic. Roughly speaking, they are 

 about equally divided between the Old and New Worlds, although the 

 former possesses a slight majority. The genera, 58 in number, are grouped 

 into six sub-families, two of which (Conurinse and Pioninse) contain all the 



New World forms and a score of African ones. The Conurinse include the 

 fine and brilliantly-coloured Macaws and the only species of Parrot which 

 occurs in North America; while the Pioninse comprise, amongst others, 

 the well-known Amazon Parrots, in whose plumage green is a characteristic 

 tint. The typical sub-family (Psittacinse) includes three species of Psittacus 

 from West Africa, five peculiar "Vasa" Parrots from Madagascar, the 

 Comoro Islands and the Seychelles, and a single form confined to New 

 Guinea. The remaining sub-families (Nasiterninse, Palseornithinse and 

 Platycercinse) belong mainly to the Oriental and Australian Regions, with 

 a few Ethiopian representatives. The Palseornithinse include the true 

 Parrakeets and so-called Love Birds, while in the Platycercinse are placed 

 the well-known Grass-Parrakeets and Ground-Parrakeets. 



STRINGOPIDuS (Owl Parrots ; 2 Species). Plate 14, Map vi. 



This family includes only the peculiar flightless Owl Parrots of New 

 Zealand. Two species have been described, but one of these is considered 

 by some authorities as only a slight varietal form. Although the bird 

 cannot fly, yet its wings are fully developed, and the loss of power is really 

 due to the absence of a keel on the breast-bone, brought about by long 

 disuse of the wings. The Owl-Parrot (Stringops habroptilus) has a peculiar 

 soft greenish plumage, and this, together with its nocturnal habits and the 

 ring of feathers round the eye, is responsible for its popular name. It feeds 

 on a variety of vegetable substances, and is of greedy habits. 



ORDER STRIGIFORMES (320 Species). 



BUBONID-E (True Owls ; 294 Species). Plate 14, Map vii. 



The Bubonidse, with 30 genera, have a cosmopolitan distribution, some 

 of the species having a remarkably wide range. They vary much in size, the 

 Eagle-Owls of the typical genus Bubo being large enough to pounce upon 

 and kill fawns, while some of the Pigmy Owls (Glaucidium) are hardly 

 bigger than sparrows. Europe possesses about a dozen species, of which 

 three are resident in Britain. These are the Tawny Owl (Syrnium aluco), 

 the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), and the Short-eared Owl (A. accipitrinus). 

 The last-named is one of the most widely-distributed species of birds, visiting 

 at various seasons nearly all parts of the globe, including the Sandwich, the 

 Falkland, and the Galapagos Islands. 



STRIGID^ (Barn-Owls ; 26 Species). Plate 14, Map vii. 



These birds are all comprised within a single genus (Strix), and have a 

 much more restricted range than the members of the previous family, although 

 occurring in all the zoogeographical regions. One species occurs in Europe 

 namely the White or Common Barn Owl (Strix flammea), and this bird is, 

 moreover, a widely-distributed resident in Britain. Seven species occur in 

 the New World, only one of which is North American. 



ORDER ACCIPITRIFORMES (507 Species). 



SERPENT ARIIDuE (Secretary Birds ; 2 Species). Plate 15, Map i. 



The Secretary Birds are peculiar to Africa, and it is a matter of opinion 

 whether the two species are really distinct. They owe their popular name to 

 a peculiar tuft of feathers on the nape, which gives the birds some sort 

 of resemblance to a clerk with pens stuck in his ears. They feed on snakes, 

 birds, lizards, and other small animals, and being thus useful in the farmyard, 

 are protected by law. They are handsome birds, about four feet in height, 

 and of a crane-like appearance. 



VULTURID£; (Old-World Vultures ; 17 Species). Plate 15, Map i. 



The members of this family, are, as their popular name implies, confined 

 to the Old World. Seven genera have been differentiated, and most of the 

 species have a wide range. Three species inhabit Southern Europe and 

 a fourth occasionally. The Black Vulture (Vultur monachus) is one of the 

 best-known forms, occurring chiefly in the countries round the Mediterranean, 

 but also found on the Lower Danube. The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron 

 percnopterus), is also well-known and has a similar distribution. Seven 

 species, known as Griffon Vultures, constitute Gyps, the largest genus in the 

 family. 



FALCONID.E (Hawks, Kites, Eagles, &c. ; 482 Species). 

 Plate 15, Maps i. and ii. 



This large assemblage of well-known Birds of Prey comprises no fewer 

 than 77 genera, which are grouped into five sub-families. The distribution 

 of each of these is shown separately on our Maps, and from these it will at 

 once be noticed that, although the family as a whole is cosmopolitan, yet 

 there is considerable difference in the range of the various smaller groups. 

 The first sub-family (Polyborinse) comprises three genera and 13 species, known 

 as Carrion-Hawks or "Caracaras." They are confined to the New World, 

 where, however, only one occurs in North America. The second sub-family 

 (Accipitrinse) is practically cosmopolitan, containing 10 genera and 147 

 species. These include Harriers (Circus), the Neotropical Harrier-Hawks 

 (Micrastur), the African Whistling Hawks (Melierax), Goshawks (Astur), 

 and Sparrow-Hawks (Accipiter). Five species claim a place on the British 

 list, the commonest and best known of which is the Common Sparrow-Hawk 

 (Accipiter nisus). The third sub-family (Buteoninse), is almost as widely 

 distributed as the previous one, not being well represented, however, in the 

 Australian Region. It contains 16 genera and 75 species, and includes the 



