Argentine Ornithology, Volume 1 (of 2): A descriptive catalogue of the birds of the Argentine Republic.Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)
Science
Argentine Ornithology, Volume 1 (of 2): A descriptive catalogue of the birds of the Argentine Republic.
Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)
Birds -- Argentina
The next following order, Herodiones, is of much more importance in
Argentine Ornithology, not less than 19 species of this group being
already known to exist within our limits, out of a total of 44
Neotropical species. And amongst these we can pick out the little
Variegated Bittern (_Ardetta involucris_) and the four species of
Ibises as being highly characteristic members of the Argentine Ornis.
The tenth order, that of Anseres, or Waterfowl, commonly so-called, is
also largely in excess as regards the number of species. Out of a total
of 64 Anseres belonging to the Neotropical Regions, 23 are met with
in the Argentine Republic. Moreover, the greater number of these are
exclusively Antarctic species, restricted to the Patagonian Subregion.
Amongst them we may specially call attention to the Black-necked Swan
(_Cygnus nigricollis_), the Chiloe Wigeon (_Mareca sibilatrix_), and
the Rosy-billed Duck (_Metopiana peposaca_) as highly characteristic
and ornamental species.
Proceeding to the next order, that of the Pigeons (Columbæ), we find the
number of Argentine species to be slightly below the average. Several
fine Pigeons and Doves are well-known inhabitants of the Republic, but
the Columbine order is not a prominent one within our limits.
The Gallinaceous birds of the Neotropical Region are about ninety in
number, the greater part of these belonging to the Curassows, Cracidæ,
a family specially adapted for habitation in the extensive forests
of the New World. Four species of Cracidæ have been met with in the
forest-region of Northern Argentina; but the Gallinaceous group as a
whole must be held to be deficient in this part of South America, the
place in Nature which these birds fill in other regions being occupied
here by the more lowly organized Tinamous, of which we shall speak
further on.
The Geranomorphæ of the Argentine Republic are much in excess as regards
the number of species. This arises mainly from the abundant supply of
Rails and Crakes which Nature has provided for the more swampy districts
of the pampas, and to the presence of no less than three distinct
species of Coots (_Fulica_), which appear to be generally abundant
on the lakes and pools. Nor must we forget to mention as of special
interest the two Cariamas which belong to this order, and which are the
only representatives of a family of very peculiar structure. One of the
two Cariamas is, so far as we know, absolutely confined to the Northern
provinces of the Argentine Republic; the second is a bird of the campos
of Southern Brazil, which only just comes within our limits.
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