27
ZOOLOGICAL
SITTIDiE (Nuthatches; 60 Species). Plate 11, Map i.
The Nuthatches, of ■which some five genera are distinguished, have a wide, but interesting, distribution. The typical genus Sitta, containing 40 species, includes all the Nearctic and Paliearctic forms of the family, together with a few of Oriental distribution. Four species are found in Europe, one of which, the Common Nuthatch (׳S', europsea), is a native of Britain; and one is peculiar to the Island of Corsica. Eleven species are found in North America. Dendrophila is Oriental, with eight species ; Neositta and Daphseno-sitta are confined to Australia and New Guinea, with ten and one species respectively, while Madagascar possesses a single peculiar form, known as Hypositta corallirostris. All these birds are small and non-migratory, with climbing habits, and feeding on insects and nuts.
REG-ULID2E (G-oldcrests and Kinglets; 27 Species). Plate 11, Map i.
The members of this group are often regarded as a part of the great Warbler family (Sylviidse), but for purposes of geographical distribution it is more convenient to consider them alone. They are essentially Nearctic and Palsearctic creatures, and the majority of the species belong to the typical genus Regulus, which includes the two British representatives, the Goldcrest-(if. regulus) and the Firecrest (R. ignicapillus.) The former is a common resident in and winter visitor to these islands, the latter an occasional visitant. They are both inhabitants of pine forests.
CHAM^ID^¡ (Wren Tits ; 4 Species). Plate 11, Map i.
This peculiar group of birds is one of the two families which are confined to the Nearctic Region. The four species known at the present day have a very restricted range in Oregon and California, where they inhabit arid plains and bushy hill-sides, flitting about in a wren-like fashion and feeding entirely on insects.
PARIDjE (Tits or Titmice; 241 Species). Plate 11, Map ii.
Although very widely distributed, the Faridas are most numerous in the Palsearctic and Oriental Regions. Twenty-four genera have been differentiated, the chief of which are Parus, Poecile, Lophophanes and jEgithalus. They are active little birds, entirely arboreal in their habits and feeding principally on insects. Half-a-dozen species are resident in Britain, the Blue Tit (Parus cseruleus) being one of our most familiar birds. The Coal Tit and the Marsh Tit are interesting, inasmuch as the British representatives are regarded as distinct from those of the Continental bird, and hence peculiar to our islands. The Long-tailed Tits (Acredula) and the Crested Tits (Lophophanes) are worthy of special mention, as are also the members of the genus Anthoscopus, which are confined to Tropical and South Africa, the purely Australian Aphelocephala and Sphenostoma, and the genus Certhiparus, with one species, confined to New Zealand.
LANIIDJE (Shrikes; 354 Species). Plate 11, Map ii.
The Shrikes are a group of variable character and hence difficult to■ define. Over 30 genera are differentiated, and these are arranged in four sub-families. The first sub-family comprises about two dozen species, including the so-called Piping-Crows (Gymnorhina). With the exception of one Bornean species and about four in the Papuan Islands, all these are confined to Australia and Tasmania. The second sub-family is the typical one, including the true Shrikes or Butcher-Birds, of which four have a place in the British avifauna, though one only breeds in this country. The true Shrikes are principally Palsearctic, Oriental and Ethiopian, but they include also seven species which inhabit North America, and which are remarkable as being the only representatives of the family in the New World. The third sub-family (Malaconotinse) includes 12 genera and 100 species entirely confined to Africa, while the last sub-family is purely Oriental and Australian, with eight genera and 119 species, most of which belong to the genus Pachycephala.
AEROCHARIDiE (Helmet-Bird; 1 Species). Plate 11, Map ii.
This family is founded for the reception of a single remarkable species inhabiting Madagascar, and formerly bearing the name of Euryceros prevosti. The generic name has been quite recently altered to Aerocharis in conformity with the rules of priority. Known popularly as the Helmet-Bird, this singular creature is clothed in black and chestnut plumage, and possesses a swollen, compressed, steely-blue beak.
PRIONOPIDjE (Wood-Shrikes; 98 Species). Plate 11, Map iii.
The Prionopidse are closely allied to the true Shrikes (Laniidee) and by some authors regarded as only of sub-family rank. They are arranged in 16 genera, and the species are natives of the Oriental, Ethiopian and Australian Regions. About a quarter of the known species are found in Africa, while 11 are natives of Australia proper, and they inhabit Southern Asia and the Malay Islands.
VANG-ID.53 (Vanga, &c.; 13 Species). Plate 11, Map iii.
This small group of birds is confined to the island of Madagascar. Six genera have been separated, all of which are related to the Shrikes and appear to represent this group in the Malagasy Sub-region.
The Pipits have a much wider range, indeed they are almost cosmopolitan. Six genera are recognised, but the great majority of the species belong to the typical one (Anthus). Only three species occur in North America, one in Australia and Tasmania, and two in New Zealand. The remote island of South Georgia possesses one, as do also the Chatham and Antipodes Islands. Three nest commonly in Britain and four others more or less frequently visit our country.
MNIOTILTIDA1 (Wood-Warblers ; 223 Species). Plate 10, Map v.
The Wood-Warblers, sometimes called “ American Warblers,” are confined to the New World, and no fewer than 27 genera have been differentiated. The genus Certhidea, with nine species peculiar to the Galapagos Islands, is regarded by some authorities as belonging to the present family, but is included by us in the Ccerebidse (q.v.). Most of the species have a wide range, since they migrate north and south for long distances to reach their seasonal haunts. They are most plentiful in the central regions, while four genera are peculiar to the West Indies and three to Central America. They are mainly insectivorous in their habits, and are of a shy and restless disposition.
CERTHIIDJE (Creepers; 48 Species). Plate 10, Map v.
In proportion to the number of known species the Creepers have a very wide range. Only five genera are distinguished, half the species belonging to the typical one Certhia, including the only British representative, the Common Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris). This is a common and generally-distributed resident in these islands, while the genus in general ranges over Northern Europe, Asia and America, as shown in our Map. Salpornis contains two species, one Indian and the other Ethiopian, Rhabdornis has three, which are confined to the Philippine Islands, while Glimacteris contains 10 species, all of which are natives of Australia and New Guinea. The beautiful Wall-Creeper (Tichodroma muraria) is the sole representative of the remaining genus, and ranges over the mountains of Southern Europe, N.E. Africa, the Himalayas, Central Asia, and Northern China.
MELIPHAGTDiE (Honey-Eaters; 257 Species). Plate 10, Map v.
These interesting birds are essentially creatures of the Australian Region, only one species crossing the boundary into the Oriental Region, namely Stigmatops linibata, which occurs in the island of Bali. Three genera are peculiar to the New Zealand Sub-region and two to the Sandwich Islands. The best-known species are the “Parson-Bird” of New Zealand, and the “Bell-Bird” of the same country. The latter appears to be rapidly becoming extinct, and owes its popular name to the peculiar nature of its song; it must not, however, be confounded with the South American birds of the family Cotingidse bearing the same popular name.
In addition to the distribution indicated on the Map, the family is represented in the Auckland and Chatham Islands.
DREPANIDIDiE (Drepanis and Allies; 39 Species). Plate 10, Map vi..
These curious and interesting birds, of which 19 genera are known, are entirely confined to the Hawaiian Archipelago. They have some resemblance to Sun-birds in general appearance, but the shape of the bill varies greatly in the different genera, in some being stout and finch-like, and in others long, curved and slender. Many of these birds possess bright and beautiful colours, and they inhabit chiefly the damp hilly forests of the remote islands which form their home.
PROMEROPIDiE (Promerops; 2 Species). Plate 10, Map vi.
These purely South-African birds were formerly regarded as Sun-birds (JVectariniidse) but are now considered sufficiently distinct to constitute a separate family. One species ranges from Cape Town to Grahamstown, while the second is a native of Natal and the Eastern Transvaal.
NECTARINIIDzE (Sun-Birds ; 244 Species). Plate 10, Map vi.
These beautiful creatures, reminding one strongly of the glorious Humming-birds of the New World, are essentially Ethiopian and Oriental in their distribution. Twenty-one genera are recognised, and the species are almost equally divided between the two regions concerned. Small and graceful, these attractive birds feed mainly on insects. They are fond of honey, but do not, as a rule, hover in front of flowers in the fashion of the well-known Humming-birds. A single species occurs in Syria and Palestine.
DICiEIDiE (Honey-Peckers; 110 Species). Plate 10, Map vi.
The Honey-Peckers, sometimes called “ Flower-peckers,” are a peculiarly Oriental and Australian family, the great majority of the species belonging to the typical genus IHcseum. All the species inhabiting Australia and Tasmania, nine in number, belong to the genus Pardalotus, the best-known form bearing the popular name of Diamond-bird (P. affinis). Honey-Peckers are small insectivorous and frugivorous birds, many of them with bright combinations of colour in their plumage. They frequent woods and gardens, and dart about in a lively fashion after the manner of the Titmice.
ZOSTEROPID2E (White-Eyes; 175 Species). Plate 10, Map vi.
The great majority of these birds are placed in a single genus Zosterops, and have a wide range in the Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian Regions, but they appear to be most plentiful in the Malay Archipelago. The popular name of “ White-Eyes ” is due to the fact that in most of the species a characteristic ring of tiny white feathers surrounds the eye. The affinities of the members of this family are somewhat doubtful. They have been placed by ornithologists among the Honey-Eaters, Sun-Birds, and Honey-Peckers, but are usually regarded at the present day as a separate family.