ZOOLOGICAL
Of this important family three sub-families are usually distinguished, the distribution of each of which is shown separately on the Map. The■ first (Sterninse) includes the various species of Terns (Sterna, &c.), and the birds known as Noddies (Anous). The latter are chiefly inhabitants of the• Tropics, but the Terns are cosmopolitan, and include 11 species which are reckoned as members of the British fauna, being summer visitors to our islands. The second sub-family (Larinse) comprises the true Gulls (Larus), of which there are over 40 species, 11 of these occurring in Britain; the-Kittiwakes (Rissa), two species, one of which is British; Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabinii) and the Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea), both of which are occasional stragglers to this country; and a few other less notable species.. The third sub-family (Rhynchopinse) contains only 5 species, known as Skimmers or Scissor-bills, three of which are American, one is an inhabitant of Africa, and the other is confined to India, Ceylon and Burma.
STERCORARIIDA! (Skuas; 7 Species). Plate 17, Map iv.
Skuas are extremely wide-ranging marine birds, but their distribution, presents some interest, inasmuch as there is a considerable gap in the Indian and Pacific Oceans where they do not occur. Only two genera are-differentiated, viz. Megalestris, with four species; and Stercorarius, with three. Four species occur in Britain, two of which breed in our islands, viz. the Great Skua (Megalestris catarrhactes), and Richardson’s Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus). Three are natives of the southern regions, one of them being found as far south as the Antarctic Continent. All the species are remarkable for their parasitic habits, namely, the robbing of' Gulls and Terns of the results of their labours—i.e. of their food.
ORDER ALCIFORMES (29 Species).
ALGID A; (Auks ; 29 Species). Plate 17, Map iv.
The members of this family are marine birds frequenting the shores of the Northern Hemisphere, and ranging as far south as Mexico, New York, the Canary Islands and Japan. Like the Penguins, whose distribution is. shown on the same plate, they habitually stand and waddle about in an upright position, and also swim and dive well. The most interesting species, perhaps, on account of its extinction, within a comparatively recent period, is the Great Auk or Gare-Fowl (Plautus impennis), which formerly inhabited the shores of the North Atlantic, south of the Arctic Circle, and including the British Isles. Specimens of this bird commonly fetch at a sale between £200 and £350, while the eggs are of about equal value. The last living examples were obtained in the year 1844 on an island off the west coast of Iceland.
This family includes half a dozen British species, which comprise the Razorbill (Alca torda), three species of Guillemot (Uria)—one a rare visitant from Arctic Seas—the Little Auk (Alle alle) and the Puffin (Fratercula arctica).
ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES (120 Species).
PROCELLARIIDA! (Typical Petrels; 25 Species). Plate 17, Map v.
The members of this family are essentially marine, and are found over the whole world. Eight genera are distinguished, which are usually grouped into two sub-families. The most familiar species is the interesting little Storm-Petrel (Procellaria pelagica), which breeds on our coasts and is noteworthy as being the smallest of British web-footed birds. Another member of the family worthy of special mention is Leach’s Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorrhoa),. which breeds on St Kilda and on some other islands off the west coast of Scotland and of Ireland.
PUFFINIDAl (Shearwaters, Fulmars, &c.; 74 Species).
Plate 17, Map v.
The Puffinidse are cosmopolitan, and comprise 13 genera, which are arranged in two sub-families. The first of these (Puffininse) contains eight genera and 63 species, including the Manx Shearwater (Puffinus anglorum), the commonest British member of the family. The other sub-family (Fulmarinse) comprises five genera and 11 species, the best-known of which are the Giant Petrel (Ossifraga gigantea) a native of Southern seas; the Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), which breeds at St Kilda and other Scottish localities; and the Cape Pigeon (Daption capensis), which has a wide distribution in the waters of the southern hemisphere.
PELECANOIDIDA1 (Diving Petrels; 4 Species). Plate 17, Map v.
The Diving Petrels, all contained in a single genus (Pelecanoides) are entirely confined to southern seas. They owe their popular name to the fact that they spend much of their time in diving below the surface of the water, a habit little indulged in by any other Petrels. Of the four known species, one occurs in the neighbourhood of Australia, New Zealand, Cape Town and the Falkland Islands; the second in the southern Indian Ocean the third in the Southern Pacific, from Peru to Chili ; and the fourth at the Tristan da Cunha group.
DIOMEDEIDA¡ (Albatrosses ; 17 Species). Plate 17, Map v.
The members of this family are large oceanic birds, found chiefly in Southern seas, and rarely visiting land save for breeding purposes, and even then the most remote oceanic islands are usually chosen. One species occurs in the North Pacific as far north as Alaska, while others are found.
34
CHARADRIIDA1 (The Plover Tribe; 201 Species). Plate 17, Map i.
The members of this large family are, as the Map shows, cosmopolitan. Although fairly uniform in character, they have been grouped into several sub-families, the number of which varies according to the views of different authors. Following the Map, three sub-families may be here considered. The first of these (Charadriinse) contains the typical Plovers, several of which inhabit the British Isles. Among them are the Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Golden Plover (Gharadrius pluvialis), Oystercatcher (Hsematopus ostralegus), and others. The second sub-family (Tringinse) includes the Phalaropes (Phalaropus), Dunlin (Tringa alpina), Stints and Sandpipers (Tringa spp.), the Ruff (Machetes pugnax), Godwits (Limosa), Curlews (Numenius), and many other well-known birds, of which Britain possesses its due share. Lastly, the Scolopacinse contain the familiar Woodcock (Scoldpax rusticula) and its relatives, with numerous species of Snipe (Gallinago). The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and Jack Snipe (G. gallinula) are regular winter visitants to Britain, the former remaining to breed in suitable localities.
PARRIDA1 (Jacanas and Water-Pheasants; 11 Species).
Plate 17, Map ii.
The curious long-toed, marsh-frequenting birds belonging to this family are for the most part confined to the Southern Hemisphere, one species in the New World occurring as far north as Texas, while in the Old they range in Africa from the Soudan southwards, and in Asia from India and Cochin-China through the Malayan and Papuan Islands to Northern and Eastern Australia. They occur also in Madagascar, but are absent from New Zealand. The Jacanas (Jacana, &c.), range well over the area mapped for the family, but the Water-Pheasant (Hydrophasis chirurgus) occurs only in the Oriental Region, ranging from India and Indo-China to the Greater Sunda Islands.
CURSORIIDA! (Coursers ; 15 Species). Plate 17, Map ii.
The members of this family are chiefly natives of Africa and India, one species occasionally wandering as far north as Europe and even Britain. Four genera are differentiated, and of the 15 species no fewer than 12 are African. The best-known form is the Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius gallicus), which inhabits the deserts of Northern Africa, ranging also eastwards through Arabia and Persia to North-western India, and is the species which has visited our islands.
GLARE0LIDA1 (Pratincoles; 10 Species). Plate 17, Map ii.
The Pratincoles, of which three genera are described, are confined to the Old World, although possessing there a wide distribution. The Common Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) has occurred on several occasions in the British Islands, but its usual home is in Southern Europe, Central Asia and India; the European birds, however, migrate to Africa for the winter.
DROMADIDA¡ (The Crab-Plover; 1 Species). Plate 17, Map iii.
The curious species for which this family has been founded (Dromas ardeola), is a bird which inhabits sandy places along the shores and islands of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. It is white, with black wings and grey tail, and is by some authors placed in the same family as the Pratincoles (Glareolidse). Its food consists of small crustaceans.
(EDICNEMIDA: (Thick-Knees; 13 Species). Plate 17, Map iii.
These birds are principally inhabitants of the Old World, where they have a wide range. One species, however, occurs in Central and part of South America, another in Peru, and a third in San Domingo. Four genera are differentiated, but the typical one (CEdicnemus) contains most of the species. Britain claims one species, the Stone Curlew (CE. cedicnemus), which occurs as a summer migrant in the south and east of England.
OTIDIDA1 (Bustards; 33 Species). Plate 17, Map iii.
The Bustards are rather handsome birds (some of them of considerable size), exclusively confined to the Old World, extending from Central Europe, Southern Siberia and Japan southwards to the Cape and Australia. Madagascar, the Malay Archipelago and New Zealand are entirely without representatives, while the greater number of species occur in Africa. Bustards are chiefly found in open grassy or sandy plains, and are capable of prolonged and rapid flight. Their food is principally of a vegetable nature, but they are also fond of insects, molluscs and even small reptiles and mammals. Three species are included in the British list, the best-known being the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), a bird formerly breeding on downs, warrens and other open country in England and Ireland, but now only occurring as a rare straggler from the Continent.
ORDER LARIF0RMES (122 Species).
L ARID A¡ (Terns, Skimmers and Gulls; 115 Species).
Plate 17, Map iv.
Very little need be said regarding the distribution of this family, since its members are cosmopolitan. They are essentially marine birds, but many species breed in localities far inland. Their nests are placed either on precipitous rocks near the sea, on rocky islands, on the edges of inland lakes or marshes, or even in heathery and grassy places, according to the species. They are omnivorous in their diet, but feed principally on fish, Crustacea and other marine animals.