399 



ISLAND LIFE 



PAET II 



The comparative remoteness of these islands, their mild 

 sub-tropical climate and luxuriant vegetation, and perhaps 

 the absence of violent storms and their being situated 

 out of the line of continental migration, seem to be the 

 conditions that have favoured the specialisation of modified 

 types adapted to the new environment. 



Japan Birds Recurring in Distant Areas. — The most 

 interesting feature in the ornithology of Japan is, un- 

 doubtedly, the presence of several species which indicate 

 an alliance with such remote districts as the Himalayas, 

 the Malay Islands, and Europe. Among the peculiar 

 species, the most remarkable of this class are, — the fruit- 

 pigeon of the genus Treron, entirely unknown in China, 

 but reappearing in Formosa and Japan ; the Hypsipetes, 

 whose nearest ally is in South China at a distance of 

 nearly 500 miles; and the jay {Garrulus japonicus), whose 

 near ally {G. gJandarius) inhabits Europe only, at a 

 distance of 3,700 miles. But even more extraordinary are 

 the- following non-peculiar species : — S'pi^aetus orientalis, a 

 crested eagle, inhabiting the Himalayas, Formosa, and 

 J apan, but unknown in Southern or Eastern China ; Cerylc 

 guttata, a spotted kingfisher, almost confined to the 

 Himalayas and Japan, though occurring rarely in Central 

 China ; and Halcyon coromanda, a brilliant red kingfisher 

 inhabiting Northern India, the Malay Islands to Celebes, 

 Formosa, and Japan. We have here an excellent illus- 

 tration of the favourable conditions which islands afford 

 both for species which elsewhere live further south 

 {Halcyon coromanda), and for the preservation in isolated 

 colonies of species which are verging towards extinction ; 

 for such we must consider the above-named eagle and 

 kingfisher, both confined to a very limited area on the 

 continent, but surviving in remote islands. Referring to 

 our account of the birth, growth, and death of a species (in 

 Chapter IV.) it can hardly be doubted that the Ceryle 

 guttata formerly ranged from the Himalayas to Japan, and 

 has now almost died out in the intervening area owing to 

 geographical and physical changes, a subject which will be 

 better discussed when we have examined the interesting 

 fauna of the island of Formosa. 



