33
ZOOLOGICAL
CARIAMIDJE (Seriemas; 2 Species). Plate 16, Map v.
This family contains only two species of birds, which are confined to a comparatively small area in South America, and whose affinities have long been a matter of discussion. By some authorities they have been regarded as birds of prey, and placed near the Secretary-bird, to which, indeed, they bear a close superficial resemblance. The Brazilian species (Gariama cristata) occurs from Pernambuco to Paraguay and Matto Grosso, while the more southern member of the family (Chunga burmeisteri) is confined to the districts of Tucuman and Catamarca in the Argentine Republic. Both species frequent open and grassy plains, and feed principally on small mammals, reptiles and insects.
GRUIDiE (Cranes ; 19 Species). Plate 16, Map vi.
The Cranes are widely distributed in the Old World, ranging from a little north of the Arctic Circle to South Africa and Australia. Their principal home is in North-eastern Asia, while on the other hand they are entirely absent from the southern half of India, the Malay Archipelago, Madagascar, Tasmania and New Zealand. Australia possesses only a single species, which does not occur in the south-western portion; and Africa has seven, two of which, however, are only winter visitants to its northern portion. In the New World only three species are found, which are confined to North America, migrating as far south as Florida and Mexico on the approach of winter. The Neotropical Region is thus entirely without representatives of the Crane family. The Common Crane (Grus grus) formerly bred in England, but now only occurs as an occasional visitant.
ARAMIDJE (Courlans or Limpkins; 2 Species). Plate 16, Map vi.
This small family appears to form a natural link between the Rails (Rallidse) and the Cranes (Gruidee). The two species at present known are entirely confined to the tropical or subtropical parts of America. The more northern of the two, that known as the Clucking Hen or Limpkin (Aramus giganteus), is found in Southern Florida, the Greater Antilles and Central America; while the other (A. scolopaceus), bearing the names of the Brazilian Courlan, Lamenting Bird, or Crazy Widow, ranges from Venezuela and Guiana to the Argentine Republic. These birds, whose cries are of a melancholy, wailing character, varied with a clucking noise (hence their popular names), frequent marshy and reedy districts, feeding principally upon molluscs, insects and small reptiles.
RHIN0CHETID2E (The Kagu; 1 Species). Plate 16, Map vi.
The solitary member of this family (Rhinochetus jubatus) is a somewhat crane-like bird, remarkable for its strange dancing antics. It is entirely confined to the island of New Caledonia, where it used formerly to be tolerably common, but it is now only found in the wildest and most remote parts of the island.
MESCENATIDiE (Mesoenas or Mesites ; 1 Species). Plate 16, Map vi.
Mesoenas (or Mesites) variegata, the only known representative of this family, is confined to the island of Madagascar. It is nearly allied to the Kagu (Rhinochetus jubatus) found in New Caledonia, and is by some authorities placed with it in the same family. It nests upon the ground, but beyond this fact nothing appears to be known of its habits.
EURYPYGIDiE (Sun-Bitterns; 2 Species). Plate 16, Map vi.
The Sun-Bitterns, so-called from their fondness for basking in the sun, are exclusively confined to Central and South America. The better known of the two species (Eurypyga helias) frequents swampy and wooded banks of rivers from Venezuela and Guiana to Bolivia and Central Brazil; while the other (E. major) inhabits similar localities in Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador. These birds are usually solitary, but are sometimes seen in pairs, feeding principally upon insects and nesting in the low branches of trees.
ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES (292 Species).
CHIONIDIDiE (Sheath-Bills ; 3 Species). Plate 17, Map i.
The members of this family are curious pigeon-like birds, inhabiting the southern extremity of South America and certain remote islands and districts in the Antarctic regions, and are possibly surviving links between the Gharadriidse (Plovers, &c.) and the Laridse (Gulls, &c.). Chionis alba, the best-known species, is sometimes called the “ Kelp Pigeon.” It is found in Southern Patagonia, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkney Archipelago, and portions of the Antarctic Continent. The other two species have their home in Kerguelen, Marion Island, Prince Edward and the Crozet Islands.
THINOCORYTHIDiE (Seed-Snipes; 5 Species). Plate 17, Map i.
The Seed-Snipes, though somewhat partridge-like in appearance, are structurallymostnearly related to the Plovers (Gharadriidse), and are restricted to the southern and extreme western portions of South America and the Falkland Islands, where they inhabit the desolate ground of the Andes in the north, and similar districts at low levels in the southern portion of their range. Two genera have been described, containing three and two species respectively.
ORDER PALAMEDEIFORMES (3 Species).
PALAMEDEIDA! (Screamers ; 3 Species). Plate 16, Map iii.
The members of this small family are strange-looking birds, entirely ■confined to the Neotropical Region. They are divided into two genera, the first of which includes only the Horned Screamer (Palamedea cornuta) of. the Amazonian forest-region. The second genus (Ghauna) contains the •other two species, or Crested Screamers, one of which is found in Southern Brazil and as far south as Argentina, while the other is a native of ■Columbia and Venezuela.
ORDER ARDEIFORMES (162 Species).
IBIDID2E (Ibises; 27 Species). Plate 16, Map iv.
No fewer than 19 genera of these interesting birds are differentiated, most of which contain only a single species. Considering the small number of species, they have a remarkably wide range, occurring practically everywhere save the northern temperate regions and New Zealand. The best-known members of the family are the Sacred Ibis (Ibis aethiopica) of Africa, whose portrait figures so abundantly on the monuments of Ancient Egypt, the beautiful Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber) of South America; and the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), a species with an extraordinarily wide range in both Old and New Worlds, and occasionally visiting the British Islands.
PLATALEID2E (Spoonbills; 6 Species). Plate 16, Map iv.
The Spoonbills have almost as wide a distribution as the Ibises, although •only half-a-dozen species are known. Only one form (Ajaja ajaja) occurs in America; of the rest, two are confined to the Australian Region, and one to Tropical Africa and Madagascar. The other two have an extensive range, occurring from Central and Southern Europe to Japan, Formosa, India and Eastern Africa. The White Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) •appears to have nested in the south-east of England about 300 years ago, but it is now only a casual visitor to Britain, chiefly to the south-east coast ■of England.
CICONIIDiE (Storks; 19 Species). Plate 16, Map iv.
The Storks have a similar distribution to that of the Ibises and Spoonbills. Eleven genera are recognised, which are grouped into two sub-families. The first of these (Tantalinse) contains two genera and four species which are known as Wood-Storks or Wood-Ibises, and which are intermediate in character between the true Storks and the Ibises. The American Wood-Stork { Tantalus loculator) is the only representative of its genus, and one of the two species of the family occurring in the United States. The true Storks (Ciconiinse) comprise nine genera and fifteen species, all but two of which are natives of the Old World. Two species occur in Europe, viz., the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), and the Black Stork (G. nigra). Both find a place on the British list, but only as occasional visitors. The so-called Adjutants •or Marabous of the genus Leptoptilus, of which two are Oriental and one Ethiopian, are also well-known members of the Stork family.
SCOPIDiE (The Hammer-Head; 1 Species). Plate 16, Map v.
The single species (Scopus umbretta), for which this family is constituted, is a curious-looking bird which inhabits wooded districts near water. It occurs, but not very abundantly, all over Tropical and South Africa, in Madagascar and in Southern Arabia.
BALiENICIPITIDiE (Whale-Headed Stork; 1 Species).
Plate 16, Map v.
This family is formed for the reception of an extraordinary-looking bird called the Whale-headed Stork or Shoebill (Balseniceps rex). It is only found in the region of the White Nile and its tributaries, but is always rare and is protected by law. Its food consists principally of fish, but other small animals are also occasionally devoured. As a rule, it lives in places far removed from human habitations.
ARDEIDiE (Herons and Bitterns; 108 Species). Plate 16, Map v.
This great family of fish-eating birds has a cosmopolitan distribution, and several of its members have an extraordinarily wide range. The European Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), for instance, occurs in every zoogeo-graphical region, while other members of the family are found over practically the whole of the Old World. Some 35 genera have been differentiated, 14 of which contain only a single species. Ten species claim a place on the British list, only one of which, the Common Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a resident, the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), a former native, having been banished from our midst.
ORDER GRUIFORMES (34 Species).
PSOPHIIDÆ (Trumpeters ; 7 Species). Plate 16, Map v.
The Trumpeters are a small group of fowl-like birds which are entirely restricted to the Amazonian forest region. In their native country they are domesticated for the purpose of protecting poultry, and when tamed show great affection for their owners. All the species belong to a single genus {Psophia).
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