ZOOLOGICAL
32
PH7ETH0NTIDJE (Tropic Birds; 6 Species). Plate 15, Map iv.
These Birds, which resemble large Terns, are even more exclusively oceanic than the members of the previous family, and are often seen hundreds of miles from land. Their range is similar to that of the Frigate-Birds, their food also consisting mainly of fish. The most striking feature in the appearance of these birds is the remarkable elongated middle pair of tail-feathers.
PELECANIDiE (Pelicans; 10 Species). Plate 15, Map iv.
These remarkable birds inhabit lakes, swamps, and tidal waters in portions of all the zoogeographical regions, four species occurring in! America, and six in the Old World. Three species occur in Southern and South-eastern Europe, and the bones of Pelicans have been found in the׳ fens of Norfolk and Cambridge, thus proving that such birds inhabited Britain at a comparatively recent period.
ORDER ANSERIFORMES (206 Species).
ANATHLE (Swans, Geese, Ducks, &c. ; 206 Species). Plate 15,
Maps v. and vi. ; Plate 16, Maps i. and ii.
The members of this large and important family are found all over the globe. The numerous species are arranged in 70 genera, and these are grouped into no fewer than 11 sub-families. The distribution of these latter is shown separately on the maps, and they may be discussed here in the same manner. The first sub-family (Cygninse) contains the-Swans, of which two genera and eight species are known. Seven of these belong to the typical genus (Cygnus), and are, with the exception of one species confined to the southern half of South America, found over the whole of the Nearctic and Palsearctic "Regions. Two species■ of Swan, namely, the Whooper, (Cygnus cygnus) and Bewick’s Swan (G. bewicki), occur regularly in Britain as winter visitors. The Black Swan of Australia is placed in the other genus, and is known a& Chenopsis atraia. The second sub-family (Anseranatinse) comprises onlv the so-called Pied or Half-webbed Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) of Australia and Tasmania. The third sub-family (Plectropterinse) contains nine genera and 17 species, including the African Spur-winged Geese-(Plectropterus), the Muscovy Duck (Cairina) of Central and tropical South America, the Wood Duck (Lampronessa) of North America, the Mandarin Duck (Aex) of China, and others occurring in various parts of the world. The fourth sub-family (Cereopsinee) is formed solely for the reception of the Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis nozse-hollandise) of Southern Australia and Tasmania. The fifth sub-family (Anserinse) comprises nine genera and 30 species of typical geese, which are spread over the whole of the Temperate and Arctic Regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The typical genus (Anser) contains 11 species, four of which occur regularly in Britain as winter visitants (one breeding in some parts of the Highlands and islands of Scotland). Other noteworthy members of this sub-family are the Snow Geese (Chen) and the Brent Geese (Branta). The sixth sub-family (Chenonettinse\ comprises southern forms only. Three genera are included here, with eight species, six of which occur in South America, one in N.E. Africa, and one in Australia. The seventh sub-family (Anatinse) contains the typical Ducks, of which 21 genera and 78 species are described. They are cosmopolitan in distribution, and nine species occur more or less regularly in Britain. These comprise two species of Sheld-Duck (Tadorna), the Mallard (Anas boscas), Gadwall (Chaulelasmus streperus), Shoveller (Spatula clypeatd), Pintail (Dafila acuta), Teal (Nettium crecca), Garganey (Querquedula querquedula), and Wigeon (Mareca penelope). The eighth sub family (Fuligulinse) include 14 genera and 35 species of diving ducks, which range over the greater-part of the world, but are absent from the northern half of South America and West Africa. Britain possesses a dozen species belonging to this group, including two Pochards, the Tufted Duck, and the Scaup-Duck (Fuligula), the Goldeneye (Clangula clangula), Long-tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis), Eider-Duck (Somateria mollissima) and three-Scoters (Qidemia). The ninth sub-family (Erismaturinse) contains four genera and 11 species of so-called Lake and Musk Ducks, five of which are American, three Ethiopian, two Australian, and the remaining one confined to the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, N.W. India, and Central Asia. The tenth sub-family (Merganettinse) is a small one, containing three genera and eight species. Six of these are confined to the Andes, one is found in New Guinea and the island of Waigion, and one, known as the Blue Duck, is confined to New Zealand. The eleventh and last sub-family (Merginse) comprises the Mergansers, of which three genera and nine species are known. These have a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, while one species occurs in S.E. Brazil, and one in the Auckland Islands. Britain possesses three, namely, the Smew (Mergus albellus), Goosander (Merganser) merganser) and Red-breasted Merganser (M. serrator), the two latter-being nesting species.
ORDER PHCENICOPTERIFORMES (6 Species).
PHCENICOPTERIDiE (Flamingoes; 6 Species). Plate 16, Map iii.
These extraordinary-looking birds have a wide range in the warmer-portions of both Hemispheres, but are entirely absent from the Australian Region. Three genera are recognised, the typical one (Phcenicopterus) containing two American species which range from Florida and the Greater Antilles far southwards, and the well-known European Flamingo (P. roseus\ which ranges from Southern Europe to Lake Baikal (omitted from the Map), India and the Cape of Good Hope.
birds known as Buzzards, two of which may be reckoned as British. The next sub-family (Gypaetinse), includes only a single genus and three species of so-called Bearded Vultures, which are confined to Africa and the Palsearctic Region. All the remaining members of this large family are placed in the Aquilinee, a group of world-wide distribution, containing 47 genera and 244 species. In this section of the family come the Eagles, Kites and Falcons, about a dozen of which are natives of Britain. Chief among these are the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus), White-tailed Eagle (Ilaliaetus albicilla), the Kestrel (Cerchneis tinnunculus), the Merlin (Falco sesalon), and the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus).
PANDIONIDjE (Ospreys; 6 Species). Plate 15, Map ii.
The Ospreys or Fish-Hawks are chiefly inhabitants of the Old World, only one species being found in America. The other five species, taken as a whole, range over most of the Eastern Hemisphere, but are absent from Madagascar and New Zealand. A single species is peculiar to Australia and the Austro-Malayan Islands, while the Common Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) has only recently been exterminated as a native of Britain. It formerly nested at Ullswater, and in Scotland in a few isolated localities in the Highlands. Some ornithologists regard the various species as only racial forms of one.
ORDER CATHARTIDIFORMES (9 Species).
CATHARTIDAl or SARCORHAMPHID7E (American Vultures ; 9 Species).
Plate 15, Map iii.
As their popular name suggests, these ungainly birds are confined to the New World, ranging from about the northern boundary of the United States to Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands. The 9 known species are divided among 5 genera, and include some of the largest known flying birds. Among them may be mentioned the huge Condor of the Andes (Sarco-rhamphus gryphus); the King Vulture (Gypagus papa), a brilliantly-coloured bird found in Central and the tropical portion of South America; the Californian Vulture (Pseudogryphus calif ornianus) confined to the country whence it derives its name ; and the Turkey-Buzzards of the typical genus (Cathartes), of which four species are known.
ORDER PELECANIFORMES (75 Species).
PHALACR0C0RACID7E (Cormorants; 42 Species). Plate 15, Map iii.
These birds have a cosmopolitan distribution, and all the species save one belong to a single genus (Phalacrocorax). The exception is Nannopterum harrisi, a peculiar form confined to one of the Galapagos Islands. The northern species of Cormorant are more or less migratory, and hence have a wider range than their southern relatives. Britain is the home of two species, the Common Cormorant (P. carbo) and the Shag (P. graculus), both of which are common residents on our coasts; while New Zealand and the neighbouring islands are the haunt of no fewer than 10 forms, which are peculiar to these remote regions. About a dozen species are found in the New World, and about half-a-dozen in Africa. Some of the species are essentially marine, while others haunt both the coast and inland waters.
PLOTIDAl (Darters ; 4 Species). Plate 15, Map iii.
These birds frequent lakes, rivers, and swamps, as well as inlets of the sea, in practically all the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. All belong to a single genus (Plotus), and only- one inhabits the New World. One species ranges over Africa and Madagascar (occurring also in Syria), another is mainly Oriental, while the remaining one is confined to Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. In appearance they resemble the Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidee), and are sometimes called “ Snake-birds,” on account of their long, thin, serpent-like necks.
SULIDjE (Gannets; 11 Species). Plate 15, Map iii.
The Gannets and “Boobies” (as some of the species are called) are ocean-loving birds, feeding on fish and nesting on rocky coasts and islands. Britain claims one species, the well-known Sula bassana of the Bass Rock and other stations chiefly on our western coasts. South Africa and Australia each possess a form very like the British one, while about half-a-dozen frequent the American coasts, both in the Atlantic and Pacific.
TACHYPETIDjE or FREGATID7E (Frigate-Birds; 2 Species).
Plate 15, Map iv.
These birds are essentially marine, seldom visiting the land except for roosting and nesting purposes. They are extremely active on the wing, feeding mainly on the fishes which swim near the surface. They also have the curious habit of forcing other marine birds, when on the wing, to disgorge their food, which they manage to catch before it falls into the water. Only two species are known, one of which occurs over the tropical and subtropical oceans of both Hemispheres, while the other is only found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.