The Porzanæ inhabit Europe, Africa, India and Australia; the four species inhabiting the latter country are generally distributed, even within the tropics.
| 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. |
Order NATATORES, Ill.
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.
Family ANATIDÆ, Leach.
Genus Cereopsis, Lath.
But one species of this singular and strictly Australian form has yet been discovered.
| 539. Cereopsis Novæ-Hollandiæ, Lath. | Vol. VII. Pl. 1. |
Genus Anseranas, Less.
Like Cereopsis, this genus contains but a single species, which is equally confined to Australia.