535. Porzana fluminea, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 79. 536. Porzana palustris, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 80. 537. Porzana leucophrys, _Gould_ Vol. VI. Pl. 81. 538. Porzana immaculata Vol. VI. Pl. 82.
Upon taking a general view of the birds of this Order inhabiting Europe and Australia, our attention cannot fail to be arrested by some remarkable contrasts which present themselves to our notice. I allude to the great excess in the number of species of some of the principal groups, and the paucity of others; for instance, of the true _Anatidæ_ or Ducks, exclusive of the Mergansers, the European fauna comprises at least forty species, while eighteen are all that are known in Australia; of the _Laridæ_ or Gulls, exclusive of the Terns, twenty species inhabit Europe, while three are all that are known in Australia; on the other hand, sixteen species of Terns frequent the shores of Australia, while only twelve resort to those of Europe; of the family _Procellaridæ_ or Petrels, nearly forty species enliven the Australian seas, while seven are all that are known to inhabit the seas of Europe; no Puffins or Guillemots are found in the seas south of the Equator; while the Penguins are unknown north of the line; and the Grebes and Cormorants are equally numerous in both hemispheres.
But one species of this singular and strictly Australian form has yet been discovered.
539. Cereopsis Novæ-Hollandiæ, _Lath._ Vol. VII. Pl. 1.
Like _Cereopsis_, this genus contains but a single species, which is equally confined to Australia.
540. Anseranas melanoleuca Vol. VII. Pl. 2.
The Australian bird hitherto referred to this genus should certainly receive a new generic appellation, since it does not agree either in form or habits with the true _Berniclæ_.
Of this beautiful genus of Pygmy Geese there are at least four species known; one inhabiting Africa, one India, and two Australia.
542. Nettapus pulchellus, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 4. 543. Nettapus albipennis, _Gould_. Nettapus Coromandelianus Vol. VII. Pl. 5.
I feel confident that the Australian bird which I have figured under the name of _N. Coromandelianus_, is quite distinct from the Indian, and I have therefore assigned it a new name.
My figures are stated to be of the natural size, but this is an error: they are considerably smaller.