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CHAP, xviii.] BI11D3. 351
In Mr. Sharpe's Catalogue (published while this work was
passing through the press) the genera of Owls are reduced to 19,
arranged in two families—Strigidse, containing our last two
genera, and Bubonidse, comprising the remainder. The species
are increased to 190; but some genera are reduced, as Strix,
which is said to contain only 5 species.
General Remarks on the Distribution of the Accipitres.
The Birds of Prey are so widely distributed over the world's
surface that their general distribution calls for few remarks. Of
the four families all but one are cosmopolites, Vultures alone being
absent from the Australian region, as well as from Indo-Malaya
and Madagascar. If we take the sub-families, we find that each
region has several which are confined to it. The only parts of
the world where there is a marked deficiency of Accipitres is in
the islands of the Pacific ; and it may be noted, as a rule, that
these birds are more abundant in continents than in islands.
There is not so much difference between the number of Birds of
Prey in tropical and temperate regions, as is found in most
other groups of land-birds. North America and Europe have
about 60 species each, while India has about 80, and South
America about 120. The total number of Accipitres is 550
comprised in 104 genera, and 4 (or perhaps more properly 5)
families. In this estimate I have not included the Serpen-
tariidse, containing the Secretary Bird of Africa, as there is
some doubt whether it really belongs to the Order,
Neotropical
SUB-REGfONS.
Order VIII.—GRALLM
Family 99.—KALLID^. (18 Genera, 153 Species.)
General Distribution.