ORNITHOLOGY OF THE COASTS AND ISLANDS 
VIII. ANSERES, 22 Species. 
Anatide, 5 Species. Thereof peculiar to W. Africa, 0 Species. 
Procellariade, ul! ” ” 0 ” 
Laride, 11 2 ” ” 6 7) 
Pe lecanide, 4 29 ” 2” 0 ” 
The value of these numerical statements is, of course, only 
approximate; but they may be sufficient, in connection with the 
following catalogue of species,* in some measure to give a distinct 
view of the great peculiarity of West African Ornithology, as well 
as its connection and alliance with that of South and North-east 
Africa. It is difficult to discover the reason that far more species 
belong in common to West and North-east Africa, than to West 
and South Africa. A comparative view of the physical construc- 
tion of these different parts of the country gives but little expla- 
uation, Migratory habits give perhaps more, as hag been proved 
by observation, The periodical migration of the Sencgambian 
species, as Swainson has already remarked, has been shown to ” 
be towards the south of Africa. It is only in this way the fact 
can be explained, that Levaillant found Lamprotornis wnea and 
aurata, as well as Laniarius barbarus in the Namaqua country. 
Swainson’s assumption that Barbary on the north, and Senegal 
in the south, bounds the distribution of this latter species, rests 
upon error. It is proved that no specimen of this bird has been 
observed north of Senegal; on the other hand, it is found along 
the whole coast of Guinea. Ag it is known in the class Mam- 
malia, in the case of certain Antelopes, that of these, distinct but 
very nearly allied species, are represented at remote points of their 
peculiar countries, so a similar peculiarity is made known to us 
among the numerous examples of the birds of Africa. We are 
reminded of this in Laniarius barbarus (W. Afr.), L. erythro- 
gaster (N. E, Afr.), and L. atroceineus (S. Afr.), as well as in 
Prionops plumatus (W. Afr.), P. cristatus (N. E, Afr.), and 
P. talacoma (8. Afr.), in Corythaiw buffonii CW. Afr.), C. lew- 
cotis (N. EH, Afr.), and C. persa (8. Afr.) Many species, indi- 
* We have not printed the catalogue. 
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