Birds and Nature Vol. 09 No. 2 [February 1901]Various
History
Birds and Nature Vol. 09 No. 2 [February 1901]
Various
Birds -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals
THE NEW ZEALAND REGION.
Here we find the flightless Apteryx and a flightless goose now extinct,
also the extinct Moa. There, are also peculiar forms among the
shore-birds, the birds of prey, the parrots, and some rather curiously
constituted passerine birds. There have been several species introduced
in relatively recent times, some of which already show signs of change.
THE AUSTRALIAN REGION
is but slightly connected with the preceding. The line separating this
region from the Indian passes between the islands of Bali and Lombok,
through the Strait of Macassar, between Borneo and Celebes, thence
northward between the Philippines and Sanguir and Pelew; including,
further on, the Ladrones, Hawaiians, all of Polynesia except the
northern outliers of the New Zealand group, and finally sweeping back to
encompass Australia. Here we find the curious egg-laying mammal,
Ornithorhynchus. But to pass at once to the birds. Here we find such
peculiar forms as the megapodes, cassowaries, sun-bitterns,
birds-of-paradise, lyre-birds, and many not so familiar. Of the higher
birds there are but few compared with Europe or America. It is evidently
a continent which has long been separated from the rest of the world.
THE NEOTROPICAL REGION
includes, broadly, tropical America. The forms found here bear certain
resemblances to those found in the two regions already discussed; but
this resemblance is probably rather because they are low in the scale of
development than that there has ever been any direct land connection
between them. Much the same conditions of life must have prevailed for
all, thus making the rate of development nearly equal. Here we find the
rhea, tinamou and hoactzin, which show low grade; but mingling freely
with them the higher forms which seem to have come down from the north
later and all but crowded out these lower ones. There is abundant
evidence that the struggle for existence in South America has been far
less severe than in North America.
THE HOLARCTIC REGION,
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