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

340 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [pabt hi.developed for display (as shown in our figure) that theybecome almost, if not quite, useless for their original purpose offlight ;yet the colours are so sober, harmonizing completelywith the surrounding vegetation, and the bird is so wary, thatin the forests where it abounds an old hunter assured me he hadnever been able to see a specimen till it was caught in hissnares. It is interesting to note, that during the display of theplumage the bird's head is concealed by the wings from aspectator in front, and, contrary to what usually obtains amongpheasants, the head is entirely unadorned, having neither crestnor a particle of vivid colour,—a remarkable confirmation ofMr. Darwin's views, that gayly coloured plumes are developedin the male bird for the purpose of attractive display inthe breeding season. The long-tailed bird on the right isone of the Drongo-shrikes (Bhringa remifer), whose long baretail-feathers, with an oar-like web at the end, and blueblaekglossy plumage, render it a very attractive object as itflies after its insect prey. On the left is another singular birdthe great Broad-bill (Corydon sumatranus), with dull and sombreplumage, but with a beak more like that of a boat-bill than of afruit-eating passerine bird. Over all, the white-handed Gibbon(Hylobates lar) swings and gambols among the topmost branchesof the forest.Reptiles and Amphibia.—These are notsufficiently known tobe of much use for our present purpose. Most of the generabelong to the continental parts of the Oriental region, or have awide range. Of snakes Bhabdosoma, Typhlocalamus, Tetragonosoma,Acrochordus, and Atropos, are the most peculiar, and thereare several peculiar genera of Homalopsidse. Of Oriental genera,Gylindrophis, Xenopeltes, Calamaria, Hypsirhina, Psammodynastcs,Gonyosoma, Tragops, Dipsas, Pareas, Python, Bungarus,Naja, and Callophis are abundant; as well as Simotcs, Ablabes.Tropidonotus, and Dendrophis, which are widely distributed.Among lizards Hydrosaurus and Gecko are common; there aremany isolated groups of Scincidse; while Draco, Calotes, andmany forms of Agamidse, some of which are peculiar, abound.Among the Amphibia, toads and frogs of the genera Micrhyla,