32 On the Distribution of European Birds. [Jan, 



rather curious, it being the only bird which is so. Moreover the manner 

 in which Mr. Swainson has traced the distribution of this tribe is 

 much to be questioned, it appearing to us a more plausible than real 

 one, many of his statements no doubt being founded on the peculiarity 

 of the country ; at least we are not at all aware of any thing being 

 stated by any author which would authorize him to make such state- 

 ments, and he makes no mention of being guided by personal examina- 

 tions, which he no doubt would have done had he travelled in these 

 regions, seeing that there is no individual more ready to inform us 

 of the extent of his travels 



In regard to his next division, we have the following statement — 29 

 " The Swallow-like birds, Fissirostres" says he, " are well known by 

 capturing their food on the wing, and by, their migratory habits ; only 

 one, the common or European Kingfisher, being stationary. Hence it 

 is, that most of the European species occur in other regions ; the pro- 

 portion of those which appear confined to Northern Africa is as 1 to 

 3." He does not give any more details in regard to the Fissiros- 

 tres, leaving his readers to fill up the rest by their own imagination. 

 In his proportional number of species he is not correct. Thus of the 

 fourteen included in the genera Hirundo, Caprimulgus, Merops, 

 Coracias, Alcedo, three are probably confined to Europe ; and of the 

 others, three are proper to Europe and Asia ; to Europe and Africa, 

 three ; to Europe, Asia, and Africa, three ; to Europe, Africa, and 



North America, one ; and to Europe, Asia, Africa, and North Ame- 



4 

 rica (?) one ; thus leaving a proportion of 1 to 3^ ; but as many of the 



species, as stated by Mr. Swainson, of this order are migratory, it ren- 

 ders the proportional number very doubtful : at least it is very liable 

 to vary. 



In regard to the Scansores, Mr. Swainson states their number to be 

 fifteen, including probably the genera Ficus, Apternus, Yunz, Sitta, 

 Certhia, Tichodroma, Upupa, and Cuculus, eight of which he states are 

 confined to Europe ; and as for the distribution of the other seven, as 

 in the Fissirostres, he gives us no information. The number of species 

 however is eighteen, and of these eleven are proper to Europe ; two 

 common to Europe and North America ; three common to Europe 

 and Asia ; one common to Europe, Asia, and Africa ; and one., the 

 Wryneck (Yunxtorquilla) common to Europe, Asia, and North Ame- 

 rica, which was many years ago pointed out. 30 Whether all of the 

 above ten species are proper to Europe, is at present a question, owing 



29 Loc. Cit. p. 24. 

 (0 Jam. ISdin. New Phil Jour, and Tames Wilson's Quart. Rev 



