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

chap, xii.] THE OEIENTAL REGION. 339(Colunibida?), and the pheasants (Phasianidae), which are fairlyrepresented by such fine genera as Treron, Ptilopus, Euplocamus,and Argusianus. A few forms whose affinities are Australianrather than Oriental, help to give a character to the ornithology,though none of them are numerous. The swallow-shrikes(Artamus); the wag-tail fly-catchers (Rhipidura); the green fruitdoves(Ptilopus) ;and the mound-makers (Mcgapodius), are thechief of these.There are a few curious examples of remote geographicalalliances that may be noted. First, we have a direct Africanconnection in Machairhamphus, a genus of hawks, and Berenicornis,a genus of hornbills ; the only close allies being, in the formercase in South, and in the latter in West Africa. Then we havea curious Neotropical affinity, indicated by Garpococcyx, a largeBornean ground-cuckoo, whose nearest ally is the genus Neomorphusof South America; and by the lovely green-colouredCalyptomena which seems unmistakably allied to the orano-ecolouredRupicola, or " Cock of the rock," in general structureand in the remarkable form of crest, a resemblance which hasbeen noticed by many writers.In the preceding enumeration of Malayan genera severalare included which extend intothe Austro-Malay Islands, ourobject, at present, being to show the differences and relations ofthe two chief Oriental sub-regions.Plate IX, A Malayan Forest with some of its peculiar Birds.—Our second illustration of the Malayan fauna is devoted to itsbird-life ;and for this purpose we place our scene in the Malaypeninsula, where birds are perhaps more abundant and moreinteresting, than in any other part of the sub-region. Conspicuousin the foreground is the huge Ehinoceros Hornbill(Buceros rhinoceros), one of the most characteristic birds of theMalayan forests, the flapping of whose wings, as it violentlybeats the air to support its heavy body, may be heard a mileoff. On the ground behind, is the Argus pheasant (Argusianusgiganteus) whose beautifully ocellated wings have beenthe subject of a most interesting description in Mr. Darwin'sDescent of Man. The wing-feathers are here so enormously