The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...
The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ... The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...
274 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hisented by a single group in Africa, with two peculiar forms onthe West coast.They also re-appear under peculiar and isolatedforms in Southern India and Malaya, and are evidently but theremains of a once wide-spread group, since in Eocene times theyinhabited North America and Europe, and very probably thewhole northern hemisphere.The Insectivora are another groupof high antiquity, widely scattered over the globe under anumber of peculiar forms ;but in no equally limited area representedby so many peculiar types as in Madagascar.South andWest Africa are also rich in this order.The Carnivora of Madagascar are mostly peculiar forms ofViverridas, or civets, a family now almost confined to theEthiopian and Oriental regions, but which was abundant inEurope during the Miocene period.The Potamochcerus is a peculiar species only, which may beperhaps explained by the unusual swimming powers of swine,and the semi-aquatic habits of this genus, leading to an immi-of the other Mammalia.gration at a later period than in the caseThe same remark will apply to the small Hippopotamus, whichwas coeval with the great Struthious bird iEpiornis.Rodents are only represented by three peculiar forms ofMuridse, but it isprobable that others remain to be discovered.Birds.—Madagascar is exceedingly rich in birds, and especiallyin remarkable forms of Passeres. No less than 88 generaand 111 species of land-birds have been discovered, and everyyear some additions are being made to the list. The Africanfamilies of Passeres are almost all represented, only two beingabsent—Parid*and Fringillidse, both very poorly represented inAfrica itself. Among the Picarhe, however, the case is verydifferent, no less than 7 families being absent, viz.—Picidse,or woodpeckers ; Indieatoridre, or honey-guides ;Megaleemidae,or barbets ;Musophagidse, or plantain-eaters ; Coliidse, or colies;Bucerotidse, or hornbills ; and Irrisorida?, or mockers. Three ofthese arepeculiar to Africa, and all are well represented there,so that their absence from Madagascar isa very remarkable fact.The number of peculiar genera in Madagascar constitutes one ofthe main features of its ornithology, and many of these are so
;CHAP. XI.] THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 275isolated that it is very difficult to classify them, and theyremain to this day a puzzle to ornithologists. In order toexhibit clearly the striking characteristics of the bird-fauna ofthis island, we shall first give a list of all the peculiar generaanother, of the genera of which the species only are peculiarand, lastly, a list of the species which Madagascar possessesin common with the Africancontinent.Genera op Birds peculiar to Madagascar, or found elsewhereonly in the mascarene islands.Sylviid^e.1. Bernieria2. Ellisia3. Mystacornis ...4. Eroessa5. Gervasia
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274 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hisented by a single group in Africa, <strong>with</strong> two peculiar forms on<strong>the</strong> West coast.<strong>The</strong>y also re-appear under peculiar and isolatedforms in Sou<strong>the</strong>rn India and Malaya, and are evidently but <strong>the</strong>remains <strong>of</strong> a once wide-spread group, since in Eocene times <strong>the</strong>yinhabited North America and Europe, and very probably <strong>the</strong>whole nor<strong>the</strong>rn hemisphere.<strong>The</strong> Insectivora are ano<strong>the</strong>r group<strong>of</strong> high antiquity, widely scattered over <strong>the</strong> globe under anumber <strong>of</strong> peculiar forms ;but in no equally limited area representedby so many peculiar types as in Madagascar.South andWest Africa are also rich in this order.<strong>The</strong> Carnivora <strong>of</strong> Madagascar are mostly peculiar forms <strong>of</strong>Viverridas, or civets, a family now almost confined to <strong>the</strong>Ethiopian and Oriental regions, but which was abundant inEurope during <strong>the</strong> Miocene period.<strong>The</strong> Potamochcerus is a peculiar species only, which may beperhaps explained by <strong>the</strong> unusual swimming powers <strong>of</strong> swine,and <strong>the</strong> semi-aquatic habits <strong>of</strong> this genus, leading to an immi-<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r Mammalia.gration at a later period than in <strong>the</strong> case<strong>The</strong> same remark will apply to <strong>the</strong> small Hippopotamus, whichwas coeval <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> great Struthious bird iEpiornis.Rodents are only represented by three peculiar forms <strong>of</strong>Muridse, but it isprobable that o<strong>the</strong>rs remain to be discovered.Birds.—Madagascar is exceedingly rich in birds, and especiallyin remarkable forms <strong>of</strong> Passeres. No less than 88 generaand 111 species <strong>of</strong> land-birds have been discovered, and everyyear some additions are being made to <strong>the</strong> list. <strong>The</strong> Africanfamilies <strong>of</strong> Passeres are almost all represented, only two beingabsent—Parid*and Fringillidse, both very poorly represented inAfrica itself. Among <strong>the</strong> Picarhe, however, <strong>the</strong> case is verydifferent, no less than 7 families being absent, viz.—Picidse,or woodpeckers ; Indieatoridre, or honey-guides ;Megaleemidae,or barbets ;Musophagidse, or plantain-eaters ; Coliidse, or colies;Bucerotidse, or hornbills ; and Irrisorida?, or mockers. Three <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se arepeculiar to Africa, and all are well represented <strong>the</strong>re,so that <strong>the</strong>ir absence from Madagascar isa very remarkable fact.<strong>The</strong> number <strong>of</strong> peculiar genera in Madagascar constitutes one <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> main features <strong>of</strong> its ornithology, and many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se are so