XXXVI 
INTRODUCTION. 
THE EXISTING AVIFAUNA. 
Having given the reader a rapid glance at the extinct genera and species, it may be useful now 
to take a general view of the existing Avifauna, for the purpose of indicating the points in which it 
differs from that of every other zoological region on the earth’s surface, and of showing the close 
relation of some of our present forms to the types that have passed away. 
The leading feature in the Ornithology of New Zealand is thus expressed by a very accomplished 
zoological writer : — “ Recent birds being divided into two great and trenchantly marked groups, of 
very unequal extent, the smaller of these groups (the Ikititm) is found to contain six most natural 
sections, comprising, to take the most exaggerated estimate, less than two score of species, while the 
larger group (the Carinatce), though perhaps not containing more natural sections, comprehends some 
ten thousand species. Now, two out of the six sections of this small group are absolutely restricted 
to New Zealand ; and these two sections contain considerably more than half of the species known to 
belong to it. Thus, setting aside the Carinate birds of our distant dependency (and some of them are 
sufficiently wonderful), its recent Ratite forms alone (some twenty species, let us say) may be regarded 
as the proportional equivalent of one tenth of the birds of the globe — or numerically, we may say, of 
an avifauna of about one thousand species ” *. 
A perusal of the following ‘ History ’ will show that the Avifauna of New Zealand possesses other 
distinguishing features of a very striking character, a full review and discussion of which would occupy 
many pages ; but some of the more prominent of these may be here mentioned, more, however, in the 
way of general indication than with the intention of exhaustive treatment. 
The feature that first strikes the general ornithologist is the comparatively large number of 
apterous birds, or species in which the anterior limbs are so feebly developed as to be absolutely 
useless for purposes of flight. Conspicuous among these are the four species of Apteryx, in which 
the wings are reduced to mere rudiments ; next in order of development come the various species of 
Ocydromus, of which I shall have something to say further on, and the remarkable Ocydromine form, 
extending continuously from New Zealand to New South Wales and Tasmania. At the close of the Jurassic period the New- 
Zealand Alps were upheaved and the geosynclinal trough between New Zealand and Australia was formed. During the Lower 
Cretaceous period a large Pacific continent extended from New Guinea to Chili, sending south from the neighbourhood of Fiji a 
peninsula that included New Zealand. Nearly all the southern part of America was submerged. Western Australia and 
Eastern Australia formed two largo islands lying at some distance from the continent. This continent supported dicotyledonous 
and other plants, insects, land-shells, frogs, a few lizards, and perhaps snakes and a few birds, but no mammals. In the Upper 
Cretaceous period New Zealand became separated and reduced to two small islands ; the South Pacific continent divided in the 
middle between Samoa and the Society Islands and — the eastern portion being elevated while the centre sank — it ultimately 
became what we know now as Chili, La Plata, and P atagonia. In the Eocene period elevation commenced in our district ; 
Eastern Australia was joined to New Guinea, which stretched through New Britain to the Solomon Islands. New Zealand was 
also upheaved and extended towards New Caledonia, but the two lands were divided by an arm of the sea. The mainland of 
New Guinea had by this time been invaded from the north by a large number of plants, birds, lizards, snakes, <fec., which 
migrated south into Eastern Australia and a few passed over the New-Caledonia channel and reached New Zealand. But still 
no mammals. In the Oligocene period New Zealand again gradually sank, carrying with it the sparse flora and fauna it had 
received, and in Miocene times was reduced to a cluster of islands ; Eastern Australia all this time receiving constant additions 
to its fauna and flora through New Guinea. In the Pliocene period elevation once more took place ; New Zealand extended 
towards the Kermadcc Islands, and the continent of Australia was formed ; after which subsidence again occurred in New 
Zealand.” 
* ‘ Nature,’ July 18, 1872. 
