On a review of the above Table it will be seen that 385 species inhabit New South Wales, 289 South Australia, 243 Western Australia, 230 Northern Australia, and 181 Van Diemen’s Land; and that of these, 88 are peculiar to New South Wales; 16 to South Australia; 36 to Western Australia; 105 to Northern Australia, and 32 to Van Diemen’s Land.
The great excess in the number of species inhabiting New South Wales is doubtless attributable to the singular belt of luxuriant vegetation, termed brushes, which stretches along the southern and south-eastern coasts between the ranges and the sea, and which is tenanted by a fauna peculiarly its own.
Although this part of the continent is inhabited by a larger number of species than any other, it is a remarkable fact that the species peculiar to Northern Australia are much more numerous than those peculiar to New South Wales.
It is curious to observe also, that while Southern Australia is inhabited by a much larger number of species than Western Australia, those peculiar to the former are not half so numerous as those peculiar to the latter.
The more southern position, and consequently colder climate of Van Diemen’s Land, will readily account for the paucity of species found in that island.
By the term peculiar, I do not mean to convey the idea that the birds are strictly confined to the respective countries, but that as yet they have not been found elsewhere.