26 On the Distribution of European Birds. [Jan. 



Lesson's species/ 5 who is quite correct in giving this name as a synonym* 

 Lesson's specimen was received from Chili, and in the Edinburgh 

 Museum there are several specimens, one of which was received by Pro- 

 fessor Jameson from Mexico. The occurrence of Humming-Birds and 

 Parrots in such high southern latitudes was long ago pointed out 

 by Cook. His observations, however, were called in question, and 

 denied by Buffon, but happily found to be quite correct by King. 16 

 But are four species, two of which are accidental visiters, to be consi- 

 dered equivalent to nearly one hundred which are confined to the 

 Continent of South America? 17 The same applies to the Tanagers ; 

 for of the three species found in North America, one alone is pro- 

 per to it, the other two being also found in South America. The 

 species we allude to, are the Tanagra rubra, Lin. and T. astaca Gm. 

 Numerous other examples could be given from the families Psittacidce, 

 Falconida?, Musicapidce, Tgrannidce, fyc. tending to shew the exclu- 

 siveness of the ornithology of South America. Again, when we turn 

 our attention to North America,' 8 we find it characterized by certain 

 tribes, which however are not so numerous as those of the other Con- 

 tinent, but quite sufficient in number to mark it out as provincially 

 distinct from South America. But it is not only by the mam- 

 malogical and ornithological kingdoms that these Continents are 

 so pre-eminently distinguished from each other. In every department 

 of animated nature we find similar characters, to notice any of which 

 is foreign to our subject at present. But although we have divided 

 the Continents of America into but two provinces, yet we believe the 

 time is not far distant when the mammology, ornithology, entomo- 

 logy, &c. shall be better examined, and more attention paid to the 

 individual members of each class ; we shall then instead of two have 

 many zoological provinces. For as in the botanical so in the zoologi- 

 cal kingdom, we shall no doubt find series of birds, quadrupeds, &c- 

 having as their fixed places of abode certain regions of the world, 

 beyond which, although a few may migrate, yet upon a careful exa- 

 mination, the greater number will be found to be confined. This 

 statement is well borne out by the collections which frequently reach 

 this country. 



Thus what ornithologist who has paid any attention to the subject 

 of the geographic distribution of birds, could not at once distinguish 

 a collection from Southern, from one from Western Africa ; or a collec- 



15 Man. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 80. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mouches, p, 69, 



16 Zool. Joura. 



17 In Mexico a good many species occur. 



18 Richardson Loc. Cit. Faun. Bor. Amer. &c. 



