ZOOLOGICAL
26
they construct their nests, which are in general shaped something like a chemist’s retort, although great variety of form is met with. The birds themselves are often strikingly coloured, possess social habits, and are of a confiding disposition. No fewer than 75 genera have been founded for the reception of this vast assemblage of forms, and these are grouped into two sub-families, namely, the Ploceinse, which includes the typical Weaver-Birds, and the Viduinse, comprising the so-called Whydah or Widow-Birds, the Waxbills, and their allies. With the exception of two genera (Ploceus and Plocella), containing together seven species, all the members of the Ploceinse. are purely Ethiopian. The Viduinse have a much wider distribution.
TANAGRID7E (Tanagers; 824 Species). Plate 10, Map iii.
The Tanagers are brilliantly coloured Finch-like birds, confined entirely to the New World, and particularly characteristic of the great forests between the tropics. Only five species, indeed, occur without this region, and these all belong to the genus Pyranga. They pass the winter in Tropical America and migrate in summer as far north as Canada and Nova Scotia, so that even these widely-wandering species really belong to the Neotropical fauna. The genera of this family are no less than 69 in number. The birds are described as “ bold, lively, and restless,” feeding on fruits, insects, and a variety of small invertebrate animals, such as molluscs and worms.
CCER.EBID.a3 (Honey-Creepers or Quit-quits ; 103 Species).
Plate 10, Map iv.
These Tit- and Creeper-like little birds are confined to the Neotropical Region, with the exception of a single species which ranges into Florida. Eleven genera have been described, the typical one (Gcereba) containing 23 species. Certhidea, a genus comprising nine species peculiar to the Galapagos Islands, is included here, but since our Map was prepared it has been shown by a study of its anatomy to belong more properly to the family Mniotiltidse.
FRINGtILLIDjE (Finches; 700 Species). Plate 10, Map iv.
This important and vast assemblage has an extremely wide distribution, occurring throughout the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. As yet they are unrecorded from the Australian Region, with the exception of three birds, of doubtful affinity, occurring in the Sandwich Islands, and which perhaps ought to be included in the Drepanididse, a family entirely peculiar to those islands. No fewer than 80 genera are recognised, many of which have a very restricted range. Thus Geospiza, with 27 species, and Gamarhynchus with 10, are peculiar to the Galapagos Islands, while Chaunoproctus, with a single species, is confined to the Bonin Islands. Finches are characteristic of the Paltearctic Region, and Britain possesses 18 species, of which 10 are resident. Many well-known birds belong to this family, but it is impossible to do more in this place than give their names. Greenfinches, Hawfinches, Chaffinches, Siskins, Linnets, Redpolls, Sparrows, Serin Finches, Grosbeaks, Bullfinches, Crossbills, and a host of others, are all more or less familiar examples.
EMBERIZID2E (Buntings ; 400 Species). Plate 10, Map iv.
The Emberizidee are so closely related to the Fringittidse or Finches that they are often united with them to form one vast family. Indeed it is sometimes a difficult matter to say to which particular group certain species should be referred. As a rule Buntings may he distinguished by a peculiarity in the bill, namely, the presence of a gap or angle between the tip and the gape. There is generally, too, a hard bony knob on the palate. The distribution of Buntings closely agrees with that of Finches, but they range much further north. About 60 genera are recognised, the typical one (Emberiza) containing at least 50 species. Eleven species are on the British list, the commonest being the well-known Yellow Bunting or Yellow Hammer (E. citrinelld). Of much interest is the Snow Bunting (Plectro-phenax nivalis), an Arctic species and the most boreal of all birds, which migrates south in winter, and has recently been proved to breed sparingly on the highest mountains in Scotland. Nesospiza is also an interesting genus, containing three species confined to the remote islands of Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island.
ALAUDIDjE (Larks; 230 Species). Plate 10, Map iv.
Larks are specially characteristic of the Pabearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental Regions, but about a score species are found in the New World, chiefly North America. All the latter are members of the genus Otocorys, and are known as Horned Larks. Only some half-dozen forms occur in the Australian Region, and belong to the genus Mirafra (Bush-Larks), while Madagascar possesses one species which also belongs to this genus. Six species are on the British list, but only one, the Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is a common resident. The Shore-lark (Otocorys alpestris) is a winter visitant, while the rest are only of very local or irregular occurrence. Africa seems to be the country best adapted for the Lark family, and many of these birds are specially adapted to dwell in desert regions.
MOTACILLIDiE (Wagtails and Pipits ; 101 Species). Plate 10, Map v.
The members of this family may be readily separated into two groups, viz., the Wagtails (Motacillinse) and the Pipits (Anthinse) and their distribution is shown separately on our Map. The former comprise about 40 species, all belonging to the typical genus Motacilla. These are widely distributed over and characteristic of the Old World, although practically absent from the Australian Region. Five species breed in Britain, but two of them only rarely.
PARADISEIDA3 (Birds of Paradise; 70 Species). Plate 10, Map ii.
The Birds of Paradise, so well known for their gorgeous and striking plumage, are confined to the Papuan Islands and the extreme eastern portion of Australia. Only four species are known from the latter country, and five from the Moluccas. All the rest are natives of New Guinea and the small islands adjacent. These beautiful birds inhabit chiefly thickly-wooded hills and ravines, and many of them have a very restricted range.
PTILONORHYNCHIDjE (Bower-Birds ; 36 Species). Plate 10, Map ii.
The Bower-Birds, so named from their interesting habit of constructing bowers or “ play-houses,” which they decorate with shells, bones, flowers and other objects, are confined to Australia and New Guinea, with a single species in the neighbouring Aru Islands. New Guinea possesses 26 species, while the Australian forms are mostly restricted to the north and east. One of the most familiar is the Satin Bower-Bird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) which inhabits the coast region of Queensland and New South Wales and is well-known to the natives for its habit of carrying off bright and attractive objects with which to adorn its home. The Cat-Birds (genus PElurcedus) are exceptional members of the family, inasmuch as they do not build bowers, but merely clear a space of ground in which the males assemble for sport.
STURNIDA3 (Starlings ; 60 Species). Plate 10, Map ii.
This interesting Old World family apparently has its headquarters in the Oriental Region, for no less than 44 species find either their permanent home there or occur within the area in winter. A dozen genera are differentiated, the typical one (Sturnus) containing three out of the four European representatives of the family, and including the common British Starling (S. vulgaris) found throughout our islands. Pastor contains a single species, the Rose-coloured Pastor (P. roseus), which is a native of S.E. Europe and Central Asia, wintering in India and occasionally wandering as far west as Britain. The genera Sturnopastor, Graculipica, Acridotheres, and jEthiopsar are purely Oriental in their distribution, while the only species found in the Ethiopian Region is the African Wattled Starling (Greatophora carunculata).
EULABETIDA3 (Grackles and Glossy Starlings ; 145 Species).
Plate 10, Map ii.
The members of this family differ from the true Starlings, to which they are closely allied, by their possessing the so-called rictal bristles, by their laying spotted eggs, and by their mainly arboreal habits. They are characteristic of the Ethiopian and Oriental Regions, but one species occurs in Palestine and the Sinaitic Peninsula, About 40 genera are recognised. The Ethiopian Region is the richest in species, containing nearly half the known members of the family ; while the Grackles (genus Eulabes) are 11 in number, and range from Northern India to Flores and the Philippine Islands.
EURYCEROTIDA3 (Helmet-Bird ; 1 Species). Plate 10, Map ii.
Since Plate 10 was printed the systematic position and scientific name of this family have been changed. It is therefore dealt with under its new name of Aerocharidae (q-v.) in its more correct position.
DICRURIDjE (Drongos; 63 Species). Plate 10, Map ii.
The Drongos, or King-Crows as they are sometimes called, are a family of typically black birds arranged in a dozen different genera and characteristic of the tropical regions of the Old World. About half the species are found in the Malay Archipelago, only one in Australia, and eight in Africa. They inhabit forest as well as open country and are of active habits, strong flight, pugnacious disposition, and insectivorous.
ORIOLIDA3 (Orioles; 70 Species). Plate 10, Map iii.
Although so many species are known, only three genera of Orioles are distinguished. These birds, in which brilliant yellow is a characteristic feature of their plumage, especially of the males, are widely distributed, but confined to the Old World. Only five species occur in Australia, and 15 in Africa, all the latter belonging to the typical genus Oriolus. Only one, the Golden Oriole (O. galbula), occurs in Europe, where it is a summer visitor, and this has bred occasionally in England.
ICTERID7E (Cassiques, Troupials and Hangnests; 186 Species).
Plate 10, Map iii.
This large assemblage of birds, although sometimes called “American Orioles,” may be more correctly regarded as the New World representatives of the Starlings (family Slurnidse). No fewer than 33 genera have been differentiated, but many of these contain only a single species. Five subfamilies are recognised, founded upon the nature of the bill. The great majority of the species are natives of Central and South America, but the best known, bearing the name of the Baltimore Oriole (Icterus baltimore) and a few others, range collectively throughout the greater part of the United States and Canada. The Cassiques, forming a sub-family, are principally South American, as are also the parasitic Cow-Birds (Molothrus). Many of the members of this family construct wonderful pensile nests, hence one of their popular names.
PLOCEHLE (Weaver-Birds ; 488 Species). Plate 10, Map iii.
These interesting birds, closely resembling the Finches (Fringittidse) in external appearance, are widely distributed in the Old World, but especially characteristic of the Ethiopian Region, where about two-thirds of the species find their home. Their popular name alludes to the clever manner in which