ZOOLOGICAL 



35 



in the neighbourhood of the Sandwich Islands, Fiji Islands and other 

 isolated groups, and in the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. The majority, 

 however, occur about the latitude of Patagonia and New Zealand. They 

 •are birds of extremely powerful flight, and the best known species, the 

 Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) has been-known to follow a ship 

 for many hundreds of miles for the sake of morsels of food which may be 

 thrown overboard. 



ORDER SPHENISCIFORMES (19 Species). 



SPHENISCID.E (Penguins; 19 Species). Plate 17, Map vi. 



These very interesting birds are entirely inhabitants of the Antarctic and 

 Southern Oceans, ranging from the shores of the Antarctic Continent north- 

 wards to the coasts of Peru and the Galapagos Islands, Uruguay, South 

 Africa, Southern Australia and New Zealand. All are absolutely flightless, 

 but are expert swimmers and divers, and when below the surface use their 

 peculiarly modified wings as paddles and their feet for steering purposes. 

 Their curious erect, waddling gait when on land is both familiar and 

 amusing. The largest known species are the King Penguin {Aptenodytes 

 patagonica) and the Emperor Penguin (A.forsteri), both of which are exceed- 

 ingly handsome birds. Specimens of the latter measure, when standing 

 •erect, 3J feet in height. 



ORDER COLMBIFORMES (5 Species). 



COLYMBID^ (Divers; 5 Species). Plate 17, Map vi. 



The few members of this family are entirely northern in their distri- 

 bution, and occur far into the Arctic Realm. They have, nevertheless, a 

 wide range, for in winter they occur in the New World as far south as 

 California and Florida, and in the Old as far as the Mediterranean, Egypt 

 and Japan. Three out of the five species occur regularly in Britain, and 

 two of these, the Black-throated Diver (Colymbus arcticus) and the Red- 

 throated Diver (G. septentrionalis), breed in the northern portion of our 

 islands. All the Divers are handsome birds, feeding on fish and nesting in 

 •exposed situations close to the margin of sheets of fresh water. 



ORDER PODICIPEDIDIFORMES (25 Species). 



PODICIPEDID^ (Grebes ; 25 Species). Plate 17, Map vi. 



The Grebes, though not numerous in species, have an exceedingly wide 

 •distribution, ranging practically over the whole world save the regions north 

 of the Arctic circle. Although some species are more or less oceanic at 

 some portions of the year, all Grebes visit lakes and rivers for the purpose 

 of breeding, and many have an exceedingly wide range. Five species occur 

 in Britain, two of which breed and three are winter visitants only. These 

 birds feed principally on small fishes, but molluscs, insects and vegetable 

 matter also form part of their diet. 



ORDER RALLIFORMES (212 Species). 



EALLID-ffi (Rails and Crakes; 207 Species). Plate 18, Map i. 



This family is practically cosmopolitan in its distribution, and is remark- 

 able for the number of flightless forms which it contains, a number of which 

 have become extinct in comparatively recent times. Two sub-families are 

 recognised, the distribution of each of which is shown separately on the 

 Map. The first (Rallinse) includes the great majority of the species, while 

 the other (Fulicinse) contains only the Coots, of which 13 species are known, 

 belonging to a single genus (Fulica). Seven species of this family are 

 included in the British fauna, the most familiar of which are the Water- 

 Rail (Rallus aquaticus), the Corn-Crake (Crex pratensis), the Moorhen 

 {Gallinula chloropus) and the Coot {Fulica atra). The Rallidse chiefly 

 inhabit moist localities near lakes and rivers where there is a luxuriance of 

 vegetation, although to this rule there are many exceptions. They indulge 

 in an extremely mixed diet. 



HELIOENITHID^I (Finfoots ; 5 Species). Plate 18, Map i. 



These birds, of which three genera are described, have a tolerably wide 

 distribution in spite of the paucity of species. One form is found in the 

 New World and is known as the American Finfoot {Heliomis fulica). It 

 ranges from British Honduras to Southern Brazil. Africa possesses three 

 species, belonging to the genus Podica. Two of these are found in the 

 western forest region and the other in Damara Land and the south-eastern 

 portion of the Continent. The remaining member of the family is Oriental, 

 ranging from Cambodia and Burma through the Malay Peninsula as far as, 

 and including, Sumatra. Like the typical Rails {Rallidse), these birds 

 frequent moist localities where there is an abundance of vegetation. 



ORDER OPISTHOCOMIFORMES (1 Species). 



OPISTHOCOMID^l (The Hoatzin ; 1 Species). Plate 18, Map i. 



The sole representative of this Order and family is a curious bird known 

 popularly as the Hoatzin or "Anna " (Opisthocomus hoazin). It is confined 

 to the great Amazonian forest region, frequenting rivers and lagoons where 

 there is a low growth of underwood, amid which it dwells and builds its nest, 



and feeds entirely on fruits and leaves. Mention must not be omitted of 

 the remarkable nature of the young birds, which climb about the bushes as 

 soon as hatched, and are provided with claws on two of the fingers of each 

 wing, by means of which they are able to climb about the thickets. This 

 bird presents many interesting peculiarities, and is, no doubt, the sole sur- 

 vivor of a primitive type. 



ORDER COLUMBIFORMES (551 Species). 



TRERONID^; (Fruit Pigeons, &c. ; 223 Species). Plate 18, Map ii. 



This, the largest, family of Pigeons is entirely confined to the Old World, 

 and includes 36 genera which are arranged in three sub-families. The first 

 sub-family (Treroninse), contains seven genera and 50 species, including seven 

 belonging to the genus Vinago, which are the only African representatives of 

 the family. Practically all the rest are restricted to the Oriental region, 

 four, however, occurring in Japan, Formosa and the Loo Choo Islands. The 

 genus Fhabotreron, with nine species, is confined to the Philippine Islands. 

 The second sub-family (Ptilopodinse) comprises 17 genera and 102 species. 

 Four of these, constituting the genus Alectrcenas, and known as Wart-Pigeons, 

 are confined to Madagascar, the Seychelles, and neighbouring islands. All 

 the other members of the sub-family are natives of the Oriental and Australian 

 regions, many being found in the remote islands of Polynesia. The true 

 Fruit-Pigeons, of which 12 genera and 71 species are known, constitute the 

 third sub-family {Garpophaginse). On the whole, they are the largest 

 members of the family, and many of them are birds of remarkable beauty of 

 plumage. One of the best-known species is the so-called Nutmeg Pigeon 

 (Carpophaga eenea), which ranges from India and Ceylon to the Sulu and 

 Philippine Islands. 



COLUMBID-E (Typical Pigeons; 118 Species). Plate 18, Map ii. 



Of this family some nine genera have been differentiated, yet 

 Golumba with 70, and Macropygia with 31 species, contain most of 

 its members. These pigeons occur in most parts of the globe, and 

 possess representatives in every zoogeographical region. About one- 

 fifth of the species are natives of the New World, only two of 

 Australia, while none occur in either New Zealand or Madagascar. 

 Three species are found in Britain, namely, the Wood Pigeon [Golumba 

 palumbus), the Stock Dove (C. cenas), and the Rock Dove (C livia). 

 All are resident species, the first-named being the most generally dis- 

 tributed. The Passenger-Pigeon {Ectopistes migratorius) of Eastern 

 and Central North America is worthy of special mention on account 

 of the enormous flocks which formerly occurred there on migration, 

 and because it is now on the verge of extinction. 



PERISTERID-E (Turtle-Doves and Ground Pigeons ; 198 Species). 

 Plate 18, Map ii. 



The members of this family have an even wider distribution than 

 the Golumbidse, their range including the whole of Australia and 

 Madagascar. No fewer than 42 genera have been founded for the 

 reception of the various species, and these are arranged in seven sub- 

 families. The species are fairly equally divided between the Old and 

 New Worlds, but the majority occur in the warmer regions of the 

 earth. The best-known form is probably the Common Turtle-Dove 

 (Turtur turtur), which is a summer visitor to England and Wales, 

 and occasionally to Scotland. It ranges over the greater part of 

 Europe, wintering in Northern Africa and Western Asia. Other note- 

 worthy members of the family are the Nicobar Pigeon {Galoznas 

 nicobarica) of the Malay Archipelago, the Wonga-Wonga (Leucosarcia 

 picata) of Australia, the Cinnamon Dove {Haplopelia larvata) of South 

 Africa, and the Mourning Dove {Zenaidura carolinensis) of North and 

 Central America. 



GOURID-ffi (Crowned Pigeons; 8 Species). Plate 18, Map ii. 



The handsome birds which constitute this family were, until quite 

 recently, only known from New Guinea. A few years ago, however, 

 the range of the group was extended by the discovery of a form 

 constituting a distinct genus, in the Solomon Islands. The popular 

 name of these birds, which are the largest members of the Columbi- 

 pormes, is due to the presence of a beautiful crest of feathers adorning 

 the top of the head. 



DIDUNCULID^ (Tooth-Billed Pigeon; 1 Species). Plate 18, Map iii. 



The sole representative of this family is a remarkable bird, regarded 

 by some as being allied to the well-known Dodo, and confined to the Samoa 

 Islands. In addition to the name given above, it is also known as the 

 Manumea or Red Bird. It was discovered in the year 1839, during the 

 United States Exploring Expedition under Commander Wilkes, and since 

 that time several examples have been procured. Curiously enough, a change 

 in the habits of the bird, which formerly was a ground-feeder and is now 

 mainly arboreal, has led to a great increase in its numbers and probably 

 saved it from extinction. 



DTDTDM (Dodos and Solitaire; 3 Extinct Species). Plate 18, Map iii. 



The members of this interesting family are all now extinct, but formerly 

 they inhabited the Islands of Mauritius, Reunion and Rodriguez. They 

 were large birds quite incapable of flight. The Dodo of Mauritius {Didus 

 ineptus) is the best-known of the three species. It was discovered in 1598 

 and less than one hundred years later (in 1691) had apparently ceased to 

 exist. An allied species, about which little is known, inhabited the Island 





