34 



ZOOLOGICAL 



CHARADRIIDJE (The Plover Tribe ; 201 Species). Plate 17, Map i. 

 The members of this large family are, as the Map shows, cosmopolitan. 

 Although fairly uniform in character, they have been grouped into several 

 sub-families, the number of which varies according to the views of different 

 authors. Following the Map, three sub-families may be here considered. 

 The first of these (Charadriinae.) contains the typical Plovers, several of 

 which inhabit the British Isles. Among them are the Lapwing (Vanellus 

 vanellus), Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis), Oystercatcher (Hsematopus 

 ostralegus), and others. The second sub-family (Tringinse) includes^ the 

 Phalaropes (Phalaropus), Dunlin (Tringa alpina), Stints and Sandpipers 

 (Tringa spp.), the Ruff (Machetes pugnax), Godwits (Limosa), Curlews 

 (Numenius), and many other well-known birds, of which Britain possesses 

 its due share. Lastly, the Scolopacinse contain the familiar Woodcock 

 (Scolopax rusticula) and its relatives, with numerous species of Snipe 

 (Gallinago). The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and Jack Snipe (G. 

 gallinula) are regular winter visitants to Britain, the former remaining to 

 breed in suitable localities. 



PARRID-S (Jacanas and Water-Pheasants; 11 Species). 

 Plate 17, Map ii. 



The curious long-toed, marsh-frequenting birds belonging to this family 

 are for the most part confined to the Southern Hemisphere, one species in 

 the New World occurring as far north as Texas, while in the Old they range 

 in Africa from the Soudan southwards, and in Asia from India and Cochin- 

 China through the Malayan and Papuan Islands to Northern and Eastern 

 Australia. They occur also in Madagascar, but are absent from New 

 Zealand. The Jacanas (Jaeana, &c), range well over the area mapped for 

 the family, but the Water-Pheasant (ffydropihasis chirurgus) occurs only in 

 the Oriental Region, ranging from India and Indo-China to the Greater 

 Sunda Islands. 



CURSORIID.E (Coursers; 15 Species). Plate 17, Map ii. 



The members of this family are chiefly natives of Africa and India, one 

 species occasionally wandering as far north as Europe and even Britain. 

 Four genera are differentiated, and of the 15 species no fewer than 12 are 

 African. The best-known form is the Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius 

 gallicus), which inhabits the deserts of Northern Africa, ranging also east- 

 wards through Arabia and Persia to North-western India, and is the species 

 which has visited our islands. 



GLAREOLIDiE (Pratincoles; 10 Species). Plate 17, Map ii. 



The Pratincoles, of which three genera are described, are confined to the 

 Old World, although possessing there a wide distribution. The Common 

 Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) has occurred on several occasions in the 

 British Islands, but its usual home is in Southern Europe, Central Asia and 

 India ; the European birds, however, migrate to Africa for the winter. 



DROMADID.E (The Crab-Plover; 1 Species). Plate 17, Map iii. 



The curious species for which this family has been founded (Dromas 

 ardeola), is a bird which inhabits sandy places along the shores and islands 

 of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. It is white, with black wings and grey 

 tail, and is by some authors placed in the same family as the Pratincoles 

 (Glareolidse). Its food consists of small crustaceans. 



(EDICNEMID.E: (Thick-Knees; 13 Species). Plate 17, Map iii. 



These birds are principally inhabitants of the Old World, where they 

 have a wide range. One species, 'however, occurs in Central and part of 

 South America, another in Peru, and a third in San Domingo. Four genera 

 are differentiated, but the typical one ((Edicnemus) contains most of the 

 species. Britain claims one species, the Stone Curlew (CE. cedicnemus), which 

 occurs as a summer migrant in the south and east of England. 



OTIDIDjE (Bustards ; 33 Species). Plate 17, Map iii. 



The Bustards are rather handsome birds (some of them of consider- 

 able size), exclusively confined to the Old World, extending from Central 

 Europe, Southern Siberia and Japan southwards to the Cape and Australia. 

 Madagascar, the Malay Archipelago and New Zealand are entirely without 

 representatives, while the greater number of species occur in Africa. 

 Bustards are chiefly found in open grassy or sandy plains, and are capable 

 of prolonged and rapid flight. Their food is principally of a vegetable 

 nature, but they are also fond of insects, molluscs and even small reptiles and 

 mammals. Three species are included in the British list, the best-known 

 being the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), a bird formerly breeding on downs, 

 warrens and other open country in England and Ireland, but now only 

 occurring as a rare straggler from the Continent. 



ORDER LARIFORMES (122 Species). 



LAB.IDJE (Terns, Skimmers and Gulls; 115 Species). 

 Plate 17, Map iv. 



Very little need be said regarding the distribution of this family, since 

 its members are cosmopolitan. They are essentially marine birds, but many 

 species breed in localities far inland. Their nests are placed either on 

 precipitous rocks near the sea, on rocky islands, on the edges of inland 

 lakes or marshes, or even in heathery and grassy places, according to the 

 species. They are omnivorous in their diet, but feed principally on fish, 

 Crustacea and other marine animals. 



Of this important family three sub-families are usually distinguished 

 the distribution of each of which is shown separately on the Map. Th* 

 first (Sterninse) includes the various species of Terns (Sterna, &cX and th 

 birds known as Noddies (Anous). The latter are chiefly inhabitants of the 

 Tropics, but the Terns are cosmopolitan, and include 11 species which 

 are reckoned as members of the British fauna, being summer visitors to our 

 islands. The second sub-family (Larinm) comprises the true Gulls (Larus) 

 of which there are over 40 species, 1 1 of these occurring in Britain • the- 

 Kittiwakes (Rissa), two species, one of which is British ; Sabine's Gull 

 (Xema sabinii) and the Ivory Gull (Pagopihila eburnea), both of which are 

 occasional stragglers to this country ; and a few other less notable species 

 The third sub-family (Rhynchopinse) contains only 5 species, known as 

 Skimmers or Scissor-bills, three of which are American, one is an inhabitant 

 of Africa, and the other is confined to India, Ceylon and Burma. 



STERCORARIID.S: (Skuas; 7 Species). Plate 17, Map iv. 



Skuas are extremely wide-ranging marine birds, but their distribution 

 presents some interest, inasmuch as there is a considerable gap in the 

 Indian and Pacific Oceans where they do not occur. Only two genera are 

 differentiated, viz. Megalestris, with four species ; and Stercorarius with 

 three. Four species occur in Britain, two of which breed in our islands 

 viz. the Great Skua (Megalestris catarrhactes), and Richardson's Skua 

 (Stercorarius parasiticus). Three are natives of the southern regions one 

 of them being found as far south as the Antarctic Continent. All the 

 species are remarkable for their parasitic habits, namely, the robbing f" 

 Gulls and Terns of the results of their labours — i.e. of their food. 



OEDER ALCIFORMES (29 Species). 



ALCID^ (Auks; 29 Species). Plate 17, Map iv. 



The members of this family are marine birds frequenting the shores of 

 the Northern Hemisphere, and ranging as far south as Mexico, New York 

 the Canary Islands and Japan. Like the Penguins, whose distribution is 

 shown on the same plate, they habitually stand and waddle about in an 

 upright position, and also swim and dive well. The most interesting species, 

 perhaps, on account of its extinction, within a comparatively recent period,. 

 is the Great Auk or Gare-Fowl (Plautus impennis), which formerly inhabited 

 the shores of the North Atlantic, south of the Arctic Circle, and including 

 the British Isles. Specimens of this bird commonly fetch at a sale between 

 £200 and £350, while the eggs are of about equal value. The last livin°- 

 examples were obtained in the year 1844 on an island off the west coast 

 of Iceland. 



This family includes half a dozen British species, which comprise the 

 Razorbill (Alca torda), three species of Guillemot (Uria) — one a rare visitant 

 from Arctic Seas — the Little Auk (Alle alle) and the Puffin (Fratercula 

 arctica). 



ORDER PR0CELLARIIF0RMES (120 Species). 



PROCELLARIIDJE (Typical Petrels; 25 Species). Plate 17, Map v. 



The members of this family are essentially marine, and are found over 

 the whole world. Eight genera are distinguished, which are usually grouped 

 into two sub-families. The most familiar species is the interesting little Storm- 

 Petrel (Procellaria pelagica), which breeds on our coasts and is noteworthy 

 as being the smallest of British web-footed birds. Another member of the 

 family worthy of special mention is Leach's Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorrhoa),. 

 which breeds on St Kilda and on some other islands off the west coast of 

 Scotland and of Ireland. 



PUFFINID.E (Shearwaters, Fulmars, &c. ; 74 Species). 

 Plate 17, Map v. 



The Puffinidee are cosmopolitan, and comprise 13 genera, which are 

 arranged in two sub-families. The first of these (Puffininse) contains eight 

 genera and 63 species, including the Manx Shearwater (Puffinus anglorum), 

 the commonest British member of the family. The other sub-family 

 (Fulmarinse) comprises five genera and 11 species, the best-known of which 

 are the Giant Petrel (Ossifraga gigantea) a native of Southern seas ; the 

 Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), which breeds at St Kilda and other Scottish 

 localities ; and the Cape Pigeon (Daption capensis), which has a wide dis- 

 tribution in the waters of the southern hemisphere. 



PELECANOIDID.il (Diving Petrels ; 4 Species). Plate 17, Map v. 



The Diving Petrels, all contained in a single genus (Pelecanoides) are 

 entirely confined to southern seas. They owe their popular name to the- 

 fact that they spend much of their time in diving below the surface of the 

 water, a habit little indulged in by any other Petrels. Of the four known 

 species, one occurs in the neighbourhood of Australia, New Zealand, Cape 

 Town and the Falkland Islands; the second in the southern Indian Ocean; 

 the third in the Southern Pacific, from Peru to Chili ; and the fourth at 

 the Tristan da Cunha group. 



DIOMEDEID-S (Albatrosses ; 17 Species). Plate 17, Map v. 



The members of this family are large oceanic birds, found chiefly in 

 Southern seas, and rarely visiting land save for breeding purposes, and even 

 then the most remote oceanic islands are usually chosen. One species 

 occurs in the North Pacific as far north as Alaska, while others are found. 



