Goulds Birds of Australia. 14 J 
Wc thus see that there arc seven great ornithological 
provinces; viz. 1, Europe (which ought to include also 
North Asia); 2, Asia, including Japan; 3, Asiatic Isles, 
exclusive of New Guinea; 4, Australia, with New Guinea 
and New Zealand ; 5, Africa; 6, North America; and, 
7, South America. 
When BufFon wrote his History of Birds , lie knew 
eight hundred species, and supposed that there might 
actually be fifteen hundred or two thousand. When 
Bonaparte wrote his continuation of Wilson's American 
Ornithology , he states the number of species to be nearly 
six thousand. We should however say, that the following 
numbers were more likely to prove correct:—Europe, 
500 ; Asia, 2000; Asiatic Isles, 1300 ; Australia, with 
New Guinea and New Zealand, 800; Africa, 2000; North 
America, 900; South America, 3000 : in all 10,500, or, 
making allowance for those common to two provinces, 
10,000. This number will doubtless startle many an 
ornithologist; but we feel convinced that it will not be 
beyond the mark; in fact, that we have .rather under¬ 
rated Asia and Africa. 
Our reason for classing New Guinea in the Australian 
province will, we think, be obvious to any one who con¬ 
siders the ornithology of that island, and we trust will 
induce Mr. Gould to embrace it in his plan. That it is 
totally unconnected with the Asiatic Isles, we may see by 
the absence in the latter of the splendid birds of Paradise ; 
which, however, have their representatives in Australia 
in the beautiful Ptiloris i^aradiscus , or rifle bird. The 
regent bird is also represented in New Guinea, and the 
only other species of Talegalla was discovered by Lesson 
in that island ; but what above all others is the chief 
reason with us, is the absence, both in Australia and 
New Guinea, of the immense and otherwise universal 
family of Picidce , or woodpeckers, so numerous in Asia 
