Identifier: geographicaldis01wall (find matches)
Title: Geographical distribution of animals : with a study of the relations of living and extinct faunas as elucidating the past changes of the earth's surface
Year: 1876 (1870s)
Authors: Wallace, Alfred Russel, 1823-1913
Subjects: Zoology
Publisher: London, Macmillan
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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ble of flight,named by Captain Hutton Cahahts modesties. It is stated thatthe Zosterops differs from that of New Zealand, and is also amigrant; and it is therefore believed to come every year fromAustralia, passing over New Zealand, a distance of nearly 1,700miles! Farther investigation will perhaps discover some otherexplanation of the facts. It is also stated, that the pigeon andone of the small birds (? Gerygone or Zosterops) have arrived atthe islands within the last eight years. The natives further de-clare, that l)()th the Strmgops and Apteryx once inhabited theislands, but were exterminated about the year 1835. The AucJdand Islands.—These are situated nearly 300 milessouth of N(!\v Zcuiland, and possess six land-birds, of which threeare peculiar,—Anthus aucklandicKs, Cyanoramphns aucklandiciu%and C. malherbii, the others being New Zealand species ofMyiomoird, Frostkem((dcra, and Anthornis. It is remarkablethat two peculiar parrots of the same genus should inhabit these <
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ciiAi. xiii.) TIIK AUSTRALIAN UEGION. 455 small islaiids; but such localities seem favourable to the Platy-cercidio, for another peculiar species is found in the remote Mac-quarie Islands, more than 400 miles farther south. A peculiarspecies and genus of ducks, Nesonctta aucJdcmdica, is also foundhere, and as far as yet known, nowhere else. A species ofthe northern genus Merym is also found on these islands, and hasbeen recently obtained by Baron von Hiigel. Plate XIII. Illustrating the peculiar Ornithology of Neio Zea-land.—Our artist has here depicted a group of the most remark-able and characteristic of the New Zealand birds. In the middleforeground is the Owl-parrot or Kakapoe (Stringops hahi^optilus),a nocturnal burrowing parrot, that feeds on fern-shoots, roots,berries, and occasionally lizards; that climbs but does not fly;and that has an owl-like mottled plumage and facial disc.The wings however are not rudimentary, but fully developed;and it seems to be only the muscles tha

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