128 
[PART III. 
ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. 
(in the Nearctic region) to California ; Chamcea, a singular form 
allied to the wrens, and forming a distinct family, is quite pecu- 
liar; Geococcyx, a Neotropical form of cuckoo, extends to California 
and Southern Texas. The following genera are very character- 
istic of the sub-region, and some of them almost confined to 
it : Myiadestes (Sylviiche) ; Psaltriparus (Paridae) ; Cyanocitta, 
Picicorvus (Corvidae) ; Hesperiphona, Peuccea , Chondestes (Fringil- 
lidse) ; Selasphorus , Atthis (Trochilidae) ; Cohcmba , Melopelia 
(Cokunbidse) ; Oreortyx (Tetraonidae). 
Reptiles.— The following genera are not found in any other 
part of the Nearctic region: Charina (Tortricidae) ; Lichanotus 
(Pythonidae) ; Gerrhonotus (Zonuridae) ; Phyllodactylns (Gecko- 
tidae) ; Anolius and Tropidolepis (Iguanidae). Bceloporus (Igu- 
anidae) is only found elsewhere in Florida. All the larger North 
American groups of lizards and snakes are also represented here ; 
but in tortoises it is deficient, owing to the absence of lakes and 
large rivers. 
Amphibia. — California possesses two genera of Salamandridae, 
Aneides and Heredia , which do not extend to the other sub- 
regions. 
Fresh-water Fish, — There are two or three peculiar genera of 
Cyprinidae, but the sub -region is comparatively poor in this 
group. 
Plate X VIII. Illustrative of the Zoology of California and the 
Rochy Mountains. — We have chosen for the subject of this illus- 
tration, the peculiar Birds of the Western mountains. The two 
birds in the foreground are a species of grouse (. Pedioccetes Colum- 
bians), entirely confined to this sub-region ; while the only other 
species of the genus is found in the prairies north and west of 
Wisconsin, so that the group is peculiar to northern and western 
America. The crested birds in the middle of the picture 
( Oreortyx picta ), are partridges, belonging to the American sub- 
family Odontophorinae. This is the only species of the genus 
which is confined to California and Oregon. The bird at the 
top is the blue crow ( Gymnokitta cyanocephala), confined to the 
Bocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada from New Mexico and 
Arizona northwards, and more properly belonging to the Central 
