32 



ZOOLOGICAL 





birds known as Buzzards, two of which may be reckoned as British. The 

 next sub-family (Gypaetinse), includes only a single genus and three species 

 of so-called Bearded Vultures, which are confined to Africa and the Palse- 

 arctic Region. .All the remaining members of this large family are placed 

 in the Aquilinse, a group of world-wide distribution, containing 47 genera 

 and 244 species. In this section of the family come the Eagles, Kites and 

 Falcons, about a dozen of which are natives of Britain. Chief among 

 these are the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaeius), White-tailed Eagle (Ilaliaetus 

 albicilla), the Kestrel (Gerchneis tinnunculus), the Merlin (Falco sesalon), 

 and the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). 



PANDIONHXa; (Ospreys ; 6 Species). Plate 15, Map ii. 



The Ospreys or Fish-Hawks are chiefly inhabitants of the Old World, 

 only one species being found in America. The other five species, taken as a 

 whole, range over most of the Eastern Hemisphere, but are absent from 

 Madagascar and New Zealand. A single species is peculiar to Australia 

 and the Austro-Malayan Islands, while the Common Osprey (Fandion 

 haliaetus) has only recently been exterminated as a native of Britain. It 

 formerly nested at Ullswater, and in Scotland in a few isolated localities 

 in the Highlands. Some ornithologists regard the various species as only 

 racial forms of one. 



ORDER CATHARTIDIFORMES (9 Species). 



CATHARTID^l or SARCORHAMPHID.E (American Vultures ; 9 Species). 



Plate 15, Map iii. 



As their popular name suggests, these ungainly birds are confined to the 

 New World, ranging from about the northern boundary of the United States 

 to Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands. The 9 known species are divided 

 among 5 genera, and include some of the largest known flying birds. 

 Among them may be mentioned the huge Condor of the Andes (Sarco- 

 rhamphus gryphus) ; the King Vulture (Gypagus papa), a brilliantly- 

 coloured bird found in Central and the tropical portion of South America ; 

 the Californian Vulture (Pseudogryphus californianus) confined to the 

 country whence it derives its name ; and the Turkey-Buzzards of the typical 

 genus (Gathartes), of which four species are known. 



ORDER PELECANIFORMES (75 Species). 



PHALACROCORACID.a; (Cormorants ; 42 Species). Plate 15, Map iii. 



These birds have a cosmopolitan distribution, and all the species save one 

 belong to a single genus (Fhalacrocorax). The exception is Nannopterum 

 harrisi, a peculiar form confined to one of the Galapagos Islands. The 

 northern species of Cormorant are more or less migratory, and hence have a 

 wider range than their southern relatives. Britain is the home of two 

 species, the Common Cormorant (P. carlo) and the Shag (P. graculus), both 

 of which are common residents on our coasts ; while New Zealand and the 

 neighbouring islands are the haunt of no fewer than 10 forms, which are 

 peculiar to these remote regions. About a dozen species are found in the 

 New World, and about half-a-dozen in Africa. Some of the species are 

 essentially marine, while others haunt both the coast and inland waters. 



PLOTID.E (Darters ; 4 Species). Plate 15, Map iii. 



These birds frequent lakes, rivers, and swamps, as well as inlets of the 

 sea, in practically all the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. All 

 belong to a single genus (Plolus), and only one inhabits the New World. 

 One species ranges over Africa and Madagascar (occurring also in Syria), 

 another is mainly Oriental, while the remaining one is confined to Australia 

 New Zealand, and New Guinea. In appearance they resemble the Cor- 

 morants (Phalacrocoracidee), and are sometimes called " Snake-birds," on 

 account of their long, thin, serpent-like necks. 



SULIDJG (Gannets ; 11 Species). Plate 15, Map iii. 



The Gannets and " Boobies " (as some of the species are called) are ocean- 

 loving birds, feeding on fish and nesting on rocky coasts and islands. Britain 

 claims one species, the well-known Sula bassana of the Bass Rock and other 

 stations chiefly on our western coasts. South Africa and Australia each 

 possess a form very like the British one, while about half-a-dozen frequent 

 the American coasts, both in the Atlantic and Pacific. 



TACHYPETID^l or FREGATID^ (Frigate-Birds ; 2 Species). 

 Plate 15, Map iv. 



These birds are essentially marine, seldom visiting the land except for 

 roosting and nesting purposes. They are extremely active on the wino-, 

 feeding mainly on the fishes which swim near the surface. They also have 

 the curious habit of forcing other marine birds, when on the wing, to disgorge 

 their food, which they manage to catch before it falls into the water. Only 

 two species are known, one of which occurs over the tropical and subtropical 

 oceans of both Hemispheres, while the other is only found in the Indian and 

 Pacific Oceans. 



PH^THONTIDuE (Tropic Birds ; 6 Species). Plate 15, Map iv. 

 These Birds, which resemble large Terns, are even more exclusively oceani 

 than the members of the previous family, and are often seen hundreds of 

 miles from land. Their range is similar to that of the Frigate-Birds their 

 food also consisting mainly of fish. The most striking feature in the appear 

 ance of these birds is the remarkable elongated middle pair of tail-feathers 



PELECANID^E (Pelicans ; 10 Species). Plate 15, Map iv. 



These remarkable birds inhabit lakes, swamps, and tidal waters in 

 portions of all the zoogeographical regions, four species occurring i a 

 America, and six in the Old World. Three species occur in Southern and 

 South-eastern Europe, and the bones of Pelicans have been found in the 

 fens of Norfolk and Cambridge, thus proving that such birds inhabited 

 Britain at a comparatively recent period. 



ORDER ANSERIFORMES (206 Species). 



ANATIDJE (Swans, Geese, Ducks, &c. ; 206 Species). Plate 15, 

 Maps v. and vi. ; Plate 16, Maps i. and ii. 



The members of this large and important family are found all over 

 the globe. The numerous species are arranged in 70 genera, and these 

 are grouped into no fewer than 11 sub-families. The distribution of 

 these latter is shown separately on the maps, and they may be discussed 

 here in the same manner. The first sub-family (Gygninse) contains the- 

 Swans, of which two genera and eight species are known. Seven of 

 these belong to the typical genus (Cygnus), and are, with the exception 

 of one species confined to the southern half of South America, found 

 over the whole of the Nearctic and Palsearctic Regions. Two species 

 of Swan, namely, the Whooper, (Cygnus cygnus) and Bewick's Swan 

 (G. bewicki), occur regularly in Britain as winter visitors. The Black 

 Swan of Australia is placed in the other genus, and is known as 

 Chenopsis atrata. The second sub-family (Anseranatinee) comprises only 

 the so-called Pied or Half-webbed Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) of 

 Australia and Tasmania. The third sub-family (Plectropterinse) contains 

 nine genera and 17 species, including the African Spur-winged Geese- 

 (Plectropterus), the Muscovy Duck (Gairina) of Central and tropical 

 South America, the Wood Duck (Lampronessa) of North America 

 the Mandarin Duck (Aex) of China, and others occurring in various 

 parts of the world. The fourth sub- family (G ereopsinse) is formed 

 solely for the reception of the Cape Barren Goose (Gereopsis novse- 

 hollandise) of Southern Australia and Tasmania. The fifth sub-family 

 (Anserinse) comprises nine genera and 30 species of typical geese, which 

 are spread over the whole of the Temperate and Arctic Regions of 

 the Northern Hemisphere. The typical genus (Aiise?-) contains 11 

 species, four of which occur regularly in Britain as winter visitants 

 (one breeding in some parts of the Highlands and islands of Scotland). 

 Other noteworthy members of this sub-family are the Snow Geese 

 (Ghen) and the Brent Geese (Branla). The sixth sub-family (Chenonettineei 

 comprises southern forms only. Three genera are included here, with 

 eight species, six of which occur in South America, one in N.E. 

 Africa, and one in Australia. The seventh sub-family (Anatinse) con- 

 tains the typical Ducks, of which 21 genera and 78 species are de- 

 scribed. They are cosmopolitan in distribution, and nine species occur 

 more or less regularly in Britain. These comprise two species of Sheld- 

 Duck (Tadorna), the Mallard (Anas boscas), Gad wall (Chaulelasmus 

 streperus), Shoveller (Spatula clypeata), Pintail (Daflla acuta), Teal 

 (Nettium crecca), Garganey (Querquedula querquedula), and Wigeon 

 (Mareca penelope). The eighth subfamily (Fuligulinse) include 14 

 genera and 35 species of diving ducks, which range over the greater 

 part of the world, but are absent from the northern half of South 

 America and West Africa. Britain possesses a dozen species belonging, 

 to this group, including two Pochards, the Tufted Duck, and the 

 Scaup-Duck (Fuligula), the Goldeneye (Glangula clangula), Long-tailed 

 Duck (Ilarelda glacialis), Eider-Duck (Somateria mollissima) and three 

 Scoters (CEdemia). The ninth sub-family (Erismaturinx) contains four 

 genera and 11 species of so-called Lake and Musk Ducks, five of 

 which are American, three Ethiopian, two Australian, and the remain- 

 ing one confined to the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, N.W. 

 India, and Central Asia. The tenth sub-family (Merganettinse) is a 

 small one, containing three genera and eight species. Six of these are 

 confined to the Andes, one is found in New Guinea and the island 

 of Waigion, and one, known as the Blue Duck, is confined to New 

 Zealand. The eleventh and last sub-family (Merginse) comprises the 

 Mergansers, of which three genera and nine species are known. These 

 have a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, while one 

 species occurs in S.E. Brazil, and one in the Auckland Islands. Britain 

 possesses three, namely, the Smew (Mergus albellus), Goosander (Merganser) 

 merganser) and Red-breasted Merganser (M. serrator), the two latter 

 being nesting species. 



ORDER PHGENICOPTERIFORMES (6 Species). 



PHCENICOPTERID^ (Flamingoes ; 6 Species). Plate 16, Map iii. 



These extraordinary-looking birds have a wide range in the warmer 

 portions of both Hemispheres, but are entirely absent from the Australian 

 Region. Three genera are recognised, the typical one (Phcenicojrterus) con- 

 taining two American species which range from Florida and the Greater 

 Antilles far southwards, and the well-known European Flamingo (P. roseus)- 

 which ranges from Southern Europe to Lake Baikal (omitted from the Map), 

 India and the Cape of Good Hope. 



