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Show 468 MR. R. LYDEKKER ON [Nov. 3, determined, while in many cases even their generic position was considered doubtful; although it was suggested that they belonged * to the genera Aquila, Buteo, Strix, Picus, Corvus, Turdus, Alauda, Fringilla, Sterna, and Anas. Further, it appears to have been considered probable that many or all of these specimens would prove to belong to existing species. It may be added that of the generic terms mentioned above several appear to be used in their original wide Linnean sense. It may be observed that the majority of the Mammalian remains from the Sardinian breccias have been referred to extinct species, such as Arvicola brecciensis (Giebel), A. henseli, F. Major, Mus orthodon, F. Major, Lagomys sardus (Hensel), Talpa tyrrhenaica, F. Major, and Sorex similis, F. Major. Moreover, as the dwarf extinct Elephants and Hippopotami of Malta, Sicily, and Crete, which clearly indicate African affinities in the Pleistocene Mammalian fauna of the Mediterranean islands, may eventually be discovered in Sardinia, it is a matter of considerable interest to determine whether the Pleistocene Avian fauna of the latter exhibits a similar proportion of extinct species, and likewise shows a marked African facies. The more migratory habits of birds as compared with mammals preclude an exact comparison between the two groups, but the presence of an African species of Bubo, and also of a Roller, gives a certain African facies to the Sardinian fauna. With regard to the question of extinct species, the unfortunate imperfection of our English collections of recent avian skeletons (to which I have elsewhere had occasion to allude) renders it in some cases impossible to determine definitely the species to which the specimens belong. In all cases, however, in which I have been able to make specific determinations, I have not found characters to distinguish the fossil from existing forms. Here, however, it must be borne in mind that as many species of birds seem to differ from one another only by external characters, it is possible that if we had the fossil birds before us in the flesh points of difference might be detected which are not apparent from the bare bones. Of the remains from the Tavolara cave the most abundant are those of Shearwaters and Quails ; while next to these come those of Passerines. The abundance of the bones of Shearwaters and the entire absence of those of Gulls are circumstances very difficult of explanation. The specimens from Bastia are mostly referable to Passerines, more especially Turdidce, but there is one humerus of a Pigeon and the terminal phalangeal of a large Accipitrine. I. STRIGES. Bubo, cf. cinerascens, Guerin.-Among the bones from Monte San Giovanni a small species of Bubo is represented by the distal part of the left tarso-metatarsus, the left femur, and the imperfect left metacarpus, all probably belonging to one individual. The tarso-metatarsus, as 1 See Gervais, Zool. et Pal. Franchises, 2nd ed. p. 423. |