The Hirundinidæ, or Swallows, are true cosmopolites. Although they do not range quite so far north (except as stragglers) as a few of the extreme polar birds, yet they pass beyond the Arctic Circle both in America and Europe,Cotyle ripariahaving been observed in the Parry Islands, whileHirundo rusticahas been seen both in Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla.Cotyle ripariaandChelidon urbicaalso breed in great numbers in northern Lapland, latitude 67° to 70° north. Many of the species also, have an enormous range, the common swallow (Hirundo rustica) inhabiting Europe, Asia and Africa, from Lapland to the Cape of Good Hope and to the Moluccas. The genera of swallows are not well determined, a number having been established of which the value is uncertain. I admit the following, referring by numbers to theHand List:—
(215—221 226—228)Hirundo(40 sp.), the range of the entire family; (222 223)Psalidoprogne(10 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (224)Phedina(1 sp.), Madagascar and Mascarene Islands; (225)Petrochelidon(5 sp.), North and South America and Cape of Good Hope; (220—232 ?234)Atticora(8 sp.), the Neotropical region and ? Australia; (235 237)Cotyle(11 sp.), Europe, India, Africa, North America, Antilles and Ecuador; (236)Stelgidopteryx(5 sp.), La Plata to United States; (238 and 239)Chelidon(6 sp.), Palæarctic region, Nepal, Borneo; (240—242)Progne(5 sp.), all North and South America.
Family31.—ICTERIDÆ. (24 Genera, 110 Species.)
The Icteridæ, or American hang-nests, range over the whole continent, from Patagonia and the Falkland Islands to the Arctic Circle. Only about 20 species inhabit the Nearctic region, while, as usual with exclusively American families, the larger proportion of the genera and species are found in thetropical parts of South America. The genera adopted by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin are the following:—
Clypeicterus(1 sp.), Upper Amazon;Ocycalus(2 sp.), Upper Amazon to Mexico;Ostinops(8 sp.), Brazil and Bolivia to Mexico;Cassiculus(1 sp.), Mexico;Cassicus(10 sp.), South Brazil and Bolivia to Costa Rica;Icterus(34 sp.), La Plata to the Antilles and United States;Dolichonyx(1 sp.), Paraguay to Canada;Molothrus(8 sp.), La Plata to Northern United States;Agelæus(7 sp.), La Plata and Chili to Northern United States;Xanthocephalus(1 sp.), Mexico to California and Canada;Xanthosomus(4 sp.), La Plata to Venezuela;Amblyrhamphus(1 sp.), La Plata and Bolivia;Gymnomystax(1 sp.), Amazonia and Guiana;Pseudoleistes(2 sp.), La Plata and Brazil;Leistes(3 sp.), La Plata to Venezuela;Sturnella(5 sp.), Patagonia and Falkland Islands to Middle United States;Curæus(1 sp.), Chili;Nesopsar(1 sp.), Jamaica;Scolecophgaus(2 sp.), Mexico to Arctic Circle;Lampropsar(4 sp.), Amazonia and Ecuador to Mexico;Quiscalus(10 sp.), Venezuela and Columbia to South and Central United States;Hypopyrrhus(1 sp.), Columbia;Aphobus(1 sp.), Brazil and Bolivia;Cassidix(2 sp.), Brazil to Mexico and Cuba.
Family32.—TANAGRIDÆ. (43 Genera, 304 Species.)
The Tanagers are an extensive family of varied and beautiful fruit-eating birds, almost peculiar to the Neotropical region, only four species of a single genus (Pyranga) extending into the Eastern United States and Rocky Mountains. Southward they range to La Plata. They are especially abundant in the forest regions of South America east of the Andes, where no less than 40 out of the 43 genera occur; 23 of the genera are peculiar to this sub-region, while only 1 (Phlogothraupis) ispeculiar to Central America and Mexico, and 2 (SpindalisandPhænicophilus) to the West Indian islands. The genera adopted by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin with their distribution will be found at Vol. II., p.99, in our account of Neotropical Zoology.
Family33.—FRINGILLIDÆ. (74 Genera, 509 Species.)
The great family of the Fringillidæ, or finches, is in a very unsettled state as regards their division into genera, the most divergent views being held by ornithologists as to the constitution and affinities of many of the groups. All the Australian finch-like birds appear to belong to the Ploceidæ, so that the finches, as here constituted, are found in every region and sub-region, except the Australian region from which they are entirely absent—a peculiar distribution hardly to be found in any other family of birds.
Many European ornithologists separate the Emberizidæ, or buntings, as a distinct family, but as the American genera have not been so divided I am obliged to keep them together; but the genera usually classed as "buntings" are placed last, as a sub-family. In the following arrangement of the genera, I have done what I could to harmonize the views of the best modern writers. For convenience of reference the succession of the genera is that of theHand List, and the numbers of the sub-genera are given whenever practicable:—
(1793 1795)Fringilla(6 sp.), the whole Palæarctic region, including the Atlantic Islands; (1794)Acanthis(3 sp.), Europe to Siberia, Persia, and North-West Himalayas; (1796)Procarduelis(1 sp.), High Himalayas and East Thibet; (1797—1803)Chrysomitris(18 sp.), Neotropical and Nearctic regions, Europe, and Siberia; (1804)Metoponia(1 sp.), East Europe to North West Himalayas; (1805 and 1809)Chlorospiza(9 sp.), Palæarctic region and Africa to theCape of Good Hope; (1806—1809)Dryospiza(14 sp.), South Europe, Palestine, Canaries, and all Africa; (1810)Sycalis(18 sp.), the whole Neotropical region; (1811—1813 1816—1819)Pyrgita(34 sp.), Palæarctic and Oriental regions, and all Africa; (1814)Montifringilla(4 sp.), Palæarctic region; (1815)Fringillauda(2 sp.), North-West Himalayas to East Thibet; (1820—1822)Coccothraustes(6 sp.), Palæarctic region and Nepal, Nearctic region to Mexico; (1823)Eophona(2 sp.), China and Japan; (1824)Mycerobas(2 sp.), Central Asia to Persia, High Himalayas, and East Thibet; (1825)Chaunoproctus(1 sp.), Bonin Islands, south-east of Japan, (probably Palæarctic); (1826)Geospiza(7 sp.), Galapagos Islands; (1827)Camarhynchus(5 sp.), Galapagos Islands; (1828)Cactornis(4 sp.), Galapagos Islands; (1830—1832)Phrygilus(10 sp.), Columbia to Fuegia and the Falkland Islands; (1833)Xenospingus(1 sp.), Peru; (1834)Diuca(3 sp.), Peru to Chili and Patagonia; (1835 and 1837)Emberizoides(3 sp.), Venezuela to Paraguay; (1836)Donacospiza(1 sp.), South Brazil and La Plata; (1839)Chamæospiza(1 sp.), Mexico; (1838 and 1840)Embernagra(9 sp.), Arizona to La Plata; (1841)Hæmophila(6 sp.), Mexico to Costa Rica; (1842)Atlapetes(1 sp.), Mexico; (1843)Pyrgisoma(5 sp.). Mexico to Costa Rica; (1844 and 1845)Pipilo(12 sp.), all North America to Guatemala; (1846)Junco(6 sp.), all the United States to Guatemala; (1847)Zonotrichia(9 sp.), the whole Nearctic and Neotropical regions; (1848 1849)Melospiza(7 sp.), Sitka and United States to Guatemala; (1850)Spizella(7 sp.), Canada to Guatemala; (1851)Passerella(4 sp.), the Nearctic region and Northern Asia; (1852)Passerculus(6 sp.), Nearctic region and to Guatemala; (1853)Poœcetes(1 sp.), all United States and Mexico; (1854)Ammodromus(4 sp.), all United States to Guatemala; (1855)Coturniculus(6 sp.), north and east of North America to Jamaica and Bolivia; (1856)Peucæa(6 sp.), South Atlantic States and California to Mexico; (1857)Tiaris(1 sp.), Brazil; (1858)Volatinia(1 sp.), Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia; (1859)Cyanospiza(5 sp.), Canada to Guatemala; (1860 1861)Paroaria(6 sp.), Tropical South America, east of the Andes; (1862)Coryphospingus(4 sp.), Tropical South America; (1863)Haplospiza(2 sp.), Mexico and Brazil; (1864 1891)Phonipara(8 sp.), Mexico to Columbia, the greater Antilles; (1865)Poospiza(13 sp.), California and South Central States to Bolivia and La Plata; (424)Spodiornis(1 sp.), Andes of Quito; (1866 1867)Pyrrhula(9 sp.), the whole Palæarctic region to the Azores and High Himalayas; (1868)Crithagra(17 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, Mauritius, Syria; (1869)Ligurnus(2 sp.), West Africa; (1870 1871)Carpodacus(18 sp.), Nearctic and Palæarctic regions to Mexico and Central India; (1872—1874)Erythrospiza(6 sp.), Southern parts of Palæarctic region; (1875)Uragus(2 sp.), Siberia and Japan; (1876)Cardinalis(2 sp.), South and Central States to Venezuela; (1877)Pyrrhuloxia(1 sp.), Texas and Rio Grande; (1878 1879)Guiraca(6 sp.), Southern United States to La Plata; (1880)Amaurospiza(2 sp.), Costa Rica and Brazil; (1881)Hedymeles(2 sp.), all United States to Columbia; (1882)Pheucticus(5 sp.), Mexico to Peru and Bolivia; (1883)Oryzoborus(6 sp.), Mexico to Ecuador and South Brazil; (1884)Melopyrrha(1 sp.), Cuba; (1885)Loxigilla(4 sp.), Antilles; (1886 1887)Spermophila(44 sp.), Texas to Bolivia and Uruguay; (1888)Catamenia(4 sp.), Columbia to Bolivia; (1889)Neorhynchus(3 sp.), West Peru; (1892)Catamblyrhyncus(1 sp.), Columbia; (1893)Loxia(7 sp.), Europe to North-west India and Japan, Arctic America to Pennsylvania, Mexico; (1894)Pinicola(3 sp.), Arctic America, North-east Europe to the Amoor, Camaroons Mountains West Africa; (1895)Propyrrhula(1 sp.), Darjeeling in the winter,? Thibet; (1896)Pyrrhospiza(1 sp.), Snowy Himalayas; (1897)Hæmatospiza(1 sp.), South-east Himalayas, 5,000-10,000 feet; (1898 1899)Linota(12 sp.), Europe to Central Asia, north and east of North America; (1900)Leucosticte(7 sp.), Siberia and Thibet to Kamschatka, and from Alaska to Utah.
Sub-family Emberizinæ.—(1995)Calamospiza(1 sp.), Arizona and Texas to Mexico; (1906)Chondestes(2 sp.), Western, Central, and Southern States to Mexico and Nicaragua; (1907—1910)Euspiza(9 sp.), Palæarctic region, India, Burmah, and South China, South-east United States to Columbia; (1911—1920)Emberiza(28 sp.), the whole Palæarctic region (continental), to Central India in winter; (1921)Gubernatrix(1 sp.), Paraguay and La Plata, (according to Messrs. Sclater and Salvin this comes next toPipilo); (1922)Fringillaria(8 sp.), Africa and South Europe;(1923—1925)Plectrophanes(6 sp.), Arctic Zone to Northern Europe and North China, Arctic America, and east side of Rocky Mountains; (1926)Centronyx(1 sp.), Mouth of Yellowstone River.
Family34.—PLOCEIDÆ. (29 Genera, 252 species.)
The Ploceidæ, or Weaver-finches, are especially characteristic of the Ethiopian region, where most of the genera and nearly four-fifths of the species are found; the remainder being pretty equally divided between the Oriental and Australian regions. Like the true finches these have never been properly studied, and it is exceedingly difficult to ascertain what genera are natural and how far those of Australia and Africa are distinct. The following enumeration must therefore be taken as altogether tentative and provisional. When the genera adopted differ from those of theHand Listthey will be referred to by numbers.
Textor(5 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (1650—1654 1657)Hyphantornis(32 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (1655 1656)Symplectes(8 sp.), Tropical and South Africa;Malimbus(9 sp.), West Africa; (1659 1661)Ploceus(6 sp.), West and East Africa, the Oriental region (excluding Philippines); (1660)Nelicurvius(1 sp.), Madagascar;Foudia(12 sp.), Madagascar and Mascarene Islands, Tropical Africa; (1663 1664)Sporopipes(2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (1665—1667)Pyromelana(14 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, Abyssinia to 10,500 feet;Philetærus(1 sp.), South Africa;Nigrita(7 sp.), West Africa to Upper Nile;Plocepasser(4 sp.), East and South Africa; (1672—1674)Vidua(7 sp.), Tropical and South Africa (Plate V., Vol. I., p. 264); (1675—1677)Coliuspasser(9 sp.), Tropical and South Africa;Chera(1 sp.), South Africa;Spermospiza(2 sp.), West Africa;Pyrenestes(6 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (1682—1687 1689 1692 1693 1698)Estrilda(26 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, India, Burmah, and Java to Australia; (1688 1690 1691 1695 1696)Pytelia(24 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (1694)Hypargos(2 sp.), Mozambique and Madagascar; (1697)Emblema(1 sp.), North-west Australia (1699 1712—1717)Amadina(15 sp.), Tropical and South Africa, Moluccas to Australia and the Samoa Islands; (1700 1701 1710)Spermestes(8 sp.), Tropical Africa and Madagascar; (1702)Amauresthes(1 sp.), East and West Africa; (1703 1707—1709 1711)Munia(30 sp.), Oriental region to Timor and New Guinea; (1704)Donacola(3 sp.), Australia; (1705 1706)Poephila(6 sp.), Australia; (1718—1721)Erythrura(7 sp.), Sumatra to Java, Moluccas, Timor, New Guinea, and Fiji Islands; (1722)Hypochera(3 sp.), Tropical and South Africa.
Family35.—STURNIDÆ. (29 Genera, 124 Species.)
The Sturnidæ or Starlings, are a highly characteristic Old-World group, extending to every part of the great Eastern continent and its islands, and over the Pacific Ocean to the Samoa Islands and New Zealand, yet wholly absent from the mainland of Australia. The family appears to be tolerably well-defined, and the following genera are generally considered to belong to it: (1558 1559 1562)Eulabes(13 sp.), the Oriental region to South-west China, Hainan, and Java,—and Flores, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in the Australian region;Ampeliceps(1 sp.),Tenasserim, Burmah, and Cochin China;Gymnops(1 sp.), Philippine Islands;Basilornis(2 sp.), Celebes and Ceram;Pastor(1 sp.), South-east Europe to India, Ceylon, and Burmah;Acridotheres(7 sp.), the whole Oriental region and Celebes; (1568 1569)Sturnia(12 sp.), the whole Oriental region, North China, Japan, and Siberia, Celebes;Dilophus(1 sp.), South Africa;Sturnus(6 sp.), Palæarctic region, to India and South China in winter;Sturnopastor(4 sp.), India to Burmah and East Java;Creadion(2 sp.), New Zealand;Heterolocha(1 sp.), New Zealand; (1520)Callæas(2 sp.), New Zealand;Buphaga(2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa;Euryceros(1 sp.), Madagascar (see Plate VI., Vol. I., p. 278.) This genus and the last should perhaps form distinct families. (1577)Juida(5 sp.), Central, West, and South Africa; (1578)Lamprocolius(20 sp.), Tropical and South Africa;Cinnyricinclus(2 sp.), Tropical and South Africa;Onychognathus(2 sp.), West Africa; (1581)Spreo(4 sp.), Tropical and South Africa; (1582—1585)Amydrus(7 sp.), South and East Africa, Palestine;Aplonis(9 sp.), New Caledonia to the Tonga Islands; (1587—1589)Calornis(18 sp.), the whole Malay Archipelago and eastward to the Ladrone and Samoa Islands; (1590)Enodes(1 sp.), Celebes;Scissirostrum(1 sp.), Celebes; (1592)Saroglossa(1 sp.), Himalayas; (1593)Hartlaubius(1 sp), Madagascar;Fregilupus(1 sp.), Bourbon, but it has recently become extinct; (363)Falculia(1 sp)., Madagascar.
Family36.—ARTAMIDÆ. (1 Genus, 17 Species.)
The Artamidæ, or Swallow-shrikes, are a curious group of birds, ranging over the greater part of the Oriental and Australian regions as far east as the Fiji Islands and south to Tasmania. Only a single species inhabits India, and they are more plentiful in Australia than in any other locality. The only well-marked genus isArtamus.
There are a few Madagascar birds belonging to the genusArtamia, which some ornithologists place in this family, others with the Laniidæ, but which are here classed with the Oriolidæ.
Family37.—ALAUDIDÆ. (15 Genera, 110 Species.)
The Alaudidæ, or Larks, may be considered as exclusively belonging to the great Eastern continent, since the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Australian regions have each only a single species. They abound most in the open plains and deserts of Africa and Asia, and are especially numerous in South Africa. The genera, including those recently established by Mr. Sharpe, are as follows:—
Otocorys(8 sp.); the Palæarctic region, North America and south to the Andes of Columbia, North India; (1928 1929)Alauda(17 sp.), Palæarctic region, all Africa, the Peninsula of India, and Ceylon; (1931)Galerita(10 sp.), Central Europe to Senegal and Abyssinia, Persia, India and North China; (1932)Calendula(2 sp.), Abyssinia and South Africa; (1933 1934)Calandrella(6 sp.), Europe, North Africa, India, Burmah, North China, and Mongolia; (1935—1937)Melanocorypha(7 sp.), South Europe to Tartary, Abyssinia, and North-west India;Pallasia(sp. 7781), East Asia; (1938)Certhilauda(4 sp.), South Europe, South Africa;Heterocorys(sp. 7792) South Africa; (1939)Alæmon(3 sp.), South-east Europe to Western India, and South Africa; (1940)Mirafra(25 sp.), the Oriental and Ethiopian regions to Australia; (1941)Ammomanes(10 sp.), South Europe to Palestine and Central India, and to Cape Verd Islands and South Africa; (1942 1943)Megalophonus(6 sp.), Tropical and South Africa;Tephrocorys(1 sp.), South Africa;Pyrrhulauda(9 sp.), all Africa, Canary Islands, India and Ceylon.
Family38.—MOTACILLIDÆ. (9 Genera, 80 Species.)
The Motacillidæ, or Wagtails and Pipits, are universally distributed, but are most abundant in the Palæarctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions, to which the true wagtails are almost confined. The following genera are usually adopted, but some of them are not very well defined:—
Motacilla(15 sp.), ranges over the greater part of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and to Alaska in North-west America;Budytes(10 sp.), Europe, Africa, Asia to Philippines, Moluccas, Timor, and North Australia;Calobates(3 sp.), South Palæarctic and Oriental regions to Java;Nemoricola(1 sp.), Oriental region;Anthus(30 sp.), all the great continents;Neocorys(1 sp.), Central North America;Corydalla(14 sp.), South Europe to India, China, the Malay Islands, Australia, New Zealand and the Auckland Islands:Macronyx(5 sp.), Tropical and South Africa;Heterura(1 sp.), Himalayas.
Family39.—TYRANNIDÆ. (71 Genera, 329 Species.)
The Tyrannidæ, or Tyrant Shrikes, form one of the most extensive and truly characteristic American families of birds; as they extend over the whole continent from Patagonia to the Arctic regions, and are found also in all the chief American islands—the Antilles, the Galapagos, the Falkland Islands, andJuan Fernandez. As the genera are all enumerated in the table, at p.101of this volume, I shall here confine myself to the distribution of the sub-families, only referring to such genera as are of special geographical interest.
Sub-family I.Conophaginæ(2 genera, 13 species). Confined to tropical South America, from Brazil and Bolivia to Guiana and Columbia.
Sub-family II.Tæniopterinæ(19 genera, 76 species). This group ranges from Patagonia and the Falkland Islands to the northern United States; yet it is almost wholly South American, only 2 genera and 4 species passing north of Panama, and none inhabiting the West Indian islands.Empidiashas 3 species in North America, whileTænioptera,Cnipolegus,Muscisaxicola, andCentrites, range south to Patagonia.
Sub-family III.Platyrhynichinæ(16 genera, 60 species). This sub-family is wholly Neotropical and mostly South American, only 7 of the genera passing Panama and but 3 reaching Mexico, while there are none in the West Indian islands. Only 3 genera extend south to the temperate sub-region, and one of these,Anæretes, has a species in Juan Fernandez.
Sub-family IV.Elaineinæ(17 genera, 91 species). This sub-family is more exclusively tropical, only two genera extending south as far as Chili and La Plata, while none enter the Nearctic region. No less than 10 of the genera pass north of Panama, and one of these,Elainea, which ranges from Chili to Costa Rica has several species in the West Indian islands. About one fourth of the species of this sub-family are found north of Panama.
Sub-family V.Tyranninæ(17 genera, 89 species). This sub-family is that which is best represented in the Nearctic region, where 6 genera and 24 species occur.Milvulusreaches Texas;TyrannusandMyiarchusrange over all the United States;Sayornis, the Eastern States and California;Contopusextends to Canada;Empidonaxranges all over North America; andPyrocephalusreaches the Gila Valley as well as the Galapagos Islands. No less than 5 genera of this sub-family occur in the West Indian islands.
Family39a.—OXYRHAMPHIDÆ. (1 Genus, 2 Species.)
The genusOxyrhamphus(2 sp.) which ranges from Brazil to Costa Rica, has usually been placed in the Dendrocolaptidæ; but Messrs Sclater and Salvin consider it to be the type of a distinct family group, most allied to the Tyrannidæ.
Family40.—PIPRIDÆ. (15 Genera, 60 Species.)
The Pipridæ, or Manakins, have generally been associated with the next family, and they have a very similar distribution. The great majority of the genera and species are found in the equatorial regions of South America, only 9 species belonging to 5 genera ranging north of Panama, while 2 or 3 species extend to the southern limit of the tropical forests in Paraguay and Brazil. The genera which go north of Panama arePiprites,Pipra,Chiroxiphia,Chiromachæris, andHetoropelma.Piprais the largest genus, containing 19 species, and having representatives throughout the whole range of the family. As in all the more extensive families peculiar to the Neotropical region, the distribution of the genera will be found in the tables appended to the chapter on the Neotropical region in the Third Part of this work. (Vol. II. p.103).
Family41.—COTINGIDÆ. (28 Genera, 93 Species.)
The Cotingidæ, or Chatterers, comprise some of the most beautiful and some of the most remarkable of American birds, for such we must consider the azure and purple Cotingas, the wine-coloured white-winged Pompadour, the snowy carunculated Bell-birds, the orange-coloured Cocks-of-the-Rock, and the marvellously-plumed Umbrella-birds, (Plate XV. Vol. II. p.28). The Cotingidæ are also one of the most pre-eminently Neotropical of all the Neotropical families, the great mass of the genera and species being concentrated in and around the vast equatorial forest region of the Amazon. Only 13 species extend north of Panama, one to the Antilles, and not more than 20 are found to the south of the Amazon Valley. Messrs. Sclater and Salvin divide the family into six sub-families, the distribution of which will be briefly indicated.
Sub-family I.Tityrinæ(3 genera, 22 species). Ranges from Brazil to Mexico, one species ofHadrostomusinhabiting Jamaica.
Sub-family II.Lipauginæ(4 genera, 14 species) also ranges from Brazil to Mexico; one genus (Ptilochloris) is confined to Brazil.
Sub-family III.Attalinæ(2 genera, 10 species). Ranges from Paraguay to Costa Rica; one genus (Casiornis) is confined to South Brazil and Paraguay.
Sub-family IV.Rupicolinæ(2 genera, 5 species). This sub-family is restricted to the Amazonian region and Guiana, with one species extending along the Andean valleys to Bolivia. The genera areRupicola(3 species) andPhænicocercus(2 species).
Sub-family V.Cotinginæ(10 genera, 28 species). Ranges from Southern Brazil and Bolivia to Nicaragua; only two species(belonging to the generaCarpodectesandCotinga) are found north of Panama, and there are none in the West Indian islands. The great majority of these, the true Chatterers, are from the regions about the Equator.
Sub-family VI.Gymnoderinæ(7 genera, 14 species). Ranges from Brazil to Costa Rica; two species, of the generaChasmorhynchusandCephalopterus, are found north of Panama, while there are none in the West Indian islands. Only 2 species are found south of the Amazon valley.
Family42.—PHYTOTOMIDÆ. (1 Genus, 3 Species.)
The Phytotomidæ, or Plant-cutters, are singular thick-billed birds, strictly confined to the temperate regions of South America. The single genus,Phytotoma, is found in Chili, La Plata, and Bolivia. Their affinities are uncertain, but they are believed to be allied to the series of families with which they are here associated. (Plate XVI. Vol. II. p.128).
Family43.—EURYLÆMIDÆ. (6 Genera, 9 Species.)
The Eurylæmidæ, or Broad-bills, form a very small family of birds, often adorned with striking colours, and which have their nearest allies in the South American Cotingidæ. They have a very limited distribution, from the lower slopes of the Himalayas through Burmah and Siam, to Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. They are evidently the remains of a once extensive group, and from the small number of specific forms remaining, seem to be onthe road to extinction. Thus we may understand their isolated geographical position. The following are the names and distribution of the genera:—
Eurylæmus(2 species), Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo;Corydon(1 species), Malacca, Sumatra and Borneo (Plate IX. Vol. I. p. 339);Psarisomus(1 species), Himalayas to Burmah, up to 6,000 feet;Serilophus(2 species), Nepal to Tenasserim;Cymbirhynchus(2 species), Siam to Sumatra and Borneo;Calyptomena(1 species), Penang to Sumatra and Borneo.
Family44.—DENDROCOLAPTIDÆ. (43 Genera, 217 Species.)
The Dendrocolaptidæ, or American Creepers, are curious brown-coloured birds with more or less rigid tail feathers, strictly confined to the continental Neotropical region, and very numerous in its south-temperate extremity. They are divided by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin into five sub-families, to which I shall confine my remarks on their distribution. The details of the numerous genera, being only interesting to specialists, will be given in the table of genera of the Neotropical region. No less than 13 of the genera are confined to South-Temperate America and the High Andes; 14 are restricted to Tropical South America, while not one is peculiar to Tropical North America, and only 15 of the 43 genera extend into that sub-region, showing that this is one of the pre-eminently South American groups.
Sub-family I.Furnariinæ(8 genera, 30 species). Ranges over all South America, 4 genera and 18 species being restricted to the temperate sub-region; one species is found in the Falkland Islands.
Sub-family II.Sclerurinæ(1 genus, 6 species). Brazil to Guiana, Columbia, and north to Mexico.
Sub-family III.Synallaxinæ(12 genera, 78 species). Ranges from Patagonia to Mexico; 7 genera and 28 species are confinedto the temperate sub-region; species occur in the islands of Mas-a-fuera, Trinidad, and Tobago.
Sub-family IV.Philydorinæ(6 genera, 35 species). Confined to Tropical America from Brazil to Mexico; 4 genera and 8 species occur in Tropical North America.
Sub-family V.Dendrocolaptinæ(14 genera, 59 species). Ranges from Chili and La Plata to Mexico; only 3 species occur in the South Temperate sub-region, while 9 of the genera extend into Tropical North America. Two of the continental species occur in the island of Tobago, which, together with Trinidad, forms part of the South American rather than of the true Antillean sub-region.
Family45.—FORMICARIIDÆ. (32 Genera, 211 Species.)
The Formicariidæ, comprising the Bush-Shrikes and Ant-thrushes, form one of the most exclusively Neotropical families; and the numerous species are rigidly confined to the warm and wooded districts, only a single species extending to La Plata, and none to the Antilles or to the Nearctic region. Less than 30 species are found north of Panama. Messrs. Sclater and Salvin divide the group into three sub-families, whose distribution may be conveniently treated, as in the Dendrocolaptidæ, without enumerating the genera.
Sub-family I.Thamnophilinæ.—(10 genera, 70 species.) One species ofThamnophilusinhabits La Plata; only 3 genera and 12 species are found north of Panama, the species of this sub-family being especially abundant in the Equatorial forest districts.
Sub-family II.Formicivorinæ.—(14 genera, 95 species.) Only 8 species occur north of Panama, and less than one-third of the species belong to the districts south of the Equator.