The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...

—;254 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part in.It is, however, sufficiently rich, possessing 54 families of landbirds, besides a few genera whose position is not well ascertained,and which may' constitute distinct families. Of these 6 arepeculiar, Musophagidae (the plantain eaters); Coliidse (the colies) ;Leptosomidse, allied to the cuckoos ;Irrisoridee, allied to thehoopoes ; and Serpentaridse, allied to the hawks. Only onePasserine family is peculiar—Paictidee, while most of the othertropical regions possess several ; but Euryceros and Buphaga,here classed with the Sturnidse, ought, perhaps, to form twomore.It has, however, many peculiar genera, especially among thefruit-thrushes, Pycnonotidse ; flycatchers, Muscicapidae ; shrikes,Lanidse ; crows, Corvidse ;starlings, Sturnidse ;and weaver-birds,Ploceidae ; the latter family being very characteristic of the region.It is also rich in barbets, Megalaemidae (7 peculiar genera)cuckoos, Cuculidas ; rollers, Coraciidse ; bee-eaters, Meropidsehornbills, Bucerotidre ; and goat-suckers, Caprimulgidae. It ispoor in parrots and rather so in pigeons ; but it abounds inPterocles and Francolinus, genera of Gallinae, and possesses 4genera of the peculiar group of the guinea-fowls, forming part ofthe pheasant family. It abounds in vultures, eagles, and otherbirds of prey, among which is the anomalous genus Seiyentarius,the secretary-bird, constituting a distinct family. Many of themost remarkable forms are confined to Madagascar and theadjacent islands, and will be noticed in our account of that subregion.Reptiles.—Of the reptiles there are 4 peculiar Ethiopianfamilies ;— 3 of snakes, Rachiodontidse, Dendraspidae, and Atractaspidseand 1 of lizards, Chamsesauridse.Psammophidse (desert snakes) are abuudant, as are Lycodontidse(fanged ground-snakes), and Viperidae (vipers). The followinggenera of snakes are peculiar or highly characteristic :Lcptorhynclms,Bhamnophis, Herpetetliiops and Grayia (Colubridae)Hopsidrophis and Bucephalus (Dendrophidae) ; Langalia (Dryophidie); Pythonodipsas (Dipsadidse) ; Boedon, Lycophidion, Holuropholis,Simocephahis and Lamprophis (Lycodontiche) ;Hortidiaand Sanzinia (Pythonidae) ; Cyrptopliis, Elapsoidea and Pcecilophis(Elapidae) ; and Atheris (Viperidse). The following genera