| OCR Text |
Show 1873.] DISTRIBUTION O F ASIATIC BIRDS. 651 Of the waders and water birds a much larger proportion are European; but there are also many confined to Asia, of which, perhaps, Ibidorhynchus struthersi is the most interesting. This bird was supposed to be restricted to the higher regions of the Himalaya, where it frequents the beds of shallow streams ; but it has been found by M . David in Setchuan and Mongolia, as well as at Pekin. The occurrence of a small Swan, described by Mr. Swinhoe as Cygnus davidi, but which M . David himself identifies with Cygnus coscoroba, is, if rightly referred to the latter species, a most remarkable fact, as this species has not, I believe, been previously observed out of S. America. Otis tarda was found by M . David in Mongolia. It has also occurred in the Peshawur valley, according to Mr. H u m e ; so that it has a wider range than any bird of its family. JAPAN. The last place included in the Palaearctic Region to which I shall refer is Japan, of which the birds are imperfectly known to us from several sources, Temminck's 'Fauna Japonica' being the most important. Some curious instances of anomalous distribution are presented; and though the general facies of the fauna is decidedly European, the occurrence in the same group of islands of species so impossible to associate as Carpophaga ianthina, Cyanopica cyanea, Phasianus versicolor, and Lagopus mutus must be regarded as very curious. It is much to be wished that the distribution of these birds in the different islands was better known; and I cannot help thinking that a detailed study of the distribution and affinities of the Japanese fauna and flora would prove of great interest to a person competent to undertake it. The number of land birds I find recorded from Japan is about 134, of which 24 birds of prey may be omitted, as, with the exception of Ninox japonica, they are all of very wide-ranging genera, and all but 4 are species also found in Europe. Of the remainder I find per cent. Peculiar to Japan 21 19 Common to Europe and Asia 32 29 Common to Asia only 57 52 Of the genera Of very wide range 32 Indo-Malayan 12 Palaearctic 56 Common to Europe 79 Among the most remarkable of Japanese birds are:-Microscelis amaurotis, the only member of the tropical family of Brachypodidae which extends so far north ; Vinago sieboldi, a fine Pigeon belonging to the Treroninae; two peculiar species of Pheasants, both of which have been introduced into Europe ; Uragus sanguinolentus, a beautiful Finch unknown elsewhere ; and several birds of European |
