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

chap, xii.] THE ORIENTAL REGION. 325one peculiar genus, Salpornis, whose affinities are Palrearctic orOriental.2. Genera of Wide Eange occurring in Central India.Tardus, Monticola, Drymceca, Cisticola, Acrocephalus, Phylloscopus,Pratincola, Parus, Pycnonotus, Criniger, Oriolus, Dicrurus,Tchitrea, Zanitis, Corvus, Zosterops, Hirundo, Cotyle, Passer,Ploceus, Estrilda, Alauda, Galandrella, Mirafra, Ammomanes,Motacilla, Anthus, Picus,Yunx, Centropus, Cuculus, Chrysoccocyx,Cqccystes, Coracias, Eurystomus, Merop>s, Alcedo, Ceryle, Halcyon,Upupa, Caprimtdgus, Cypselus, Chcetura, Columba,Turtur, Pterocles,Coturnix, Turnix;—48 genera.3. Pal^earctic Genera occurring in Central India.Hypolais, Sylvia, Ourruca, Cyanecula, Calliope, Chelidon, Euspiza,Emhcriza, Galerita, Calobates, Corydalla;— 11 genera.4. Ethiopian Genera occurring in Central India.Tliamnobia, Pyrrhulauda, Pterocles, Francolinus ;— 4 genera.A consideration of the above lists shows us, that the Hindostansub-region is by no means so poor in forms of bird-life as isgenerally supposed (and as I had myself anticipated, it wouldprove to be), possessing, as it does, 151 genera of land-birds,without counting the Accipitres. It must also set at rest thequestion of the zoological affinities of the district, since a preponderanceof 88 genera, against 4, cannot be held to be insufficient,and cannot be materially altered by any corrections indetails that may be proposed or substantiated. Even of thesefour, only the first two are exclusively Ethiopian, Pterocles andFrancolinus both being Palsearctic also. It is a question, indeed,whether anywhere in the world an outlying sub-region canbe found, exhibiting less zoological affinity for the adjacentregions ;and we have here a striking illustration of the necessityof deciding all such cases, not by examples, which may be sochosen as to support any view, but by carefully weighing andcontrasting the whole of the facts on which the solution of the