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Show 648 MR. H. J. ELWES ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL [June 1 7, ford, a list, which, though not complete, is a very great advance on any thing hitherto published, and includes about 180 species of land birds. To these I have added about 20, which are noticed in Philippi's «Viaggio in Persia ;' and though Mr. Blanford had not at the time I saw his list determined the species of many of his birds, yet in the present instance the genera are quite enough to show the character of the fauna. It shows that 127 Persian species are found in Europe; 37 are allied species belonging to European genera; 15 are species of N.E. African type; 3 are species of Indian type, viz. Malacocercus, Chatarrheea, and Otocompsa ; 7 are species of Central- Asian type, viz. Carpodacus, Metoponia, Erythrospiza, Tetraogallus, Rhodopechys, and Phasianus. A R A B I A. The greater part of Arabia probably belongs to the Palaearctic region; but as we know nothing whatever of the interior, it is quite possible that in the mountain-region of the south-west some Ethiopian forms may occur. The cultivation of the coffee-tree proves that there must be a region very different in climate and vegetation from the coast; and it is to be hoped that some enterprising traveller will ere long make us better acquainted with what must be an extremely interesting country. At present less is probably known of the birds of Arabia than of any equally extensive region on the globe. PALESTINE. Of Palestine I need say but little, Canon Tristram having already so well described the birds of this country. By his computation (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 456), of 322 species noted in Palestine, 260 are included in the European lists; 31 are common to Eastern Africa, and are chiefly desert species of Nubia and the Sahara; 11 are of Eastern or Northern Asia; 4 are Gulls and Terns of the Red Sea; 27 are peculiar to Palestine and adjacent countries. The most remarkable birds included in Canon Tristram's list are :- Ketupa ceylonensis (which, unless a straggler, must surely be found in some part of Persia), Ixos xanthopygius, Crateropus chalybeus, Nectarinia osea, Amydrus tristrami, Bessonornis albigularis (also found at Smyrna and in Persia), Caccabis heyi, and Struthio camelus. Of Asia Minor it is still less necessary to speak. W e know but little it is true; but there can be no doubt that the birds are very similar to those of Turkey in Europe, though a few, such as Tetraogallus caucasicus, here find their western limit. SIBERIA. Siberia now claims our attention; but though it occupies a very large surface on the map, the country is chiefly remarkable for the scarcity of birds in most parts of it. Pallas, Middendorff, Radde, and Schrenck are the authors whose writings comprise nearly the whole of our knowledge of Siberian ornithology; but though the country can only be said to be partially explored, it is not likely that many new species remain undiscovered. |
