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The distribution of Australian land birds

Hall, Robert 1910 , 'The distribution of Australian land birds' , Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania , pp. 314-333 .

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Abstract

Previously I indicated the Geographical Distribution
of Passerine Birds in Australia, and what appeared
to me to be the directions of their expansion over the
Continent.
The numerals (1 to 9) were placed upon those portions
of the map which I considered to be the natural
avifaunal areas. Had I then realised the order in which
they spread over the Continent I should have placed 1
where 8 is, 2 where 1 is, and 8 where 7 is now, and so on,
for convenience sake.
At that time, when dealing with the Passeres alone,
the area 2 was strongest in species and area 3 in genera.
I expressed the opinion that the Passerine birds of
area 2 had their origin in the old Papuan sub-region, and
that the greater part of the remaining Passerine birds of
Australia was derived from this area, travelling along
three routes—from the N.E. to the W., from the N.E. to
the S.E., and from the S.E. to the S.W. of the Continent
The present-day parrots do not lend themselves to
any of these lines of expansion, a recent evolutionary
centre appearing to have been in area 7. Taking for
example the large genus, Neophema, we find the line
2, I, 8 unrepresented, and with only a single species in
area 9, as the tip of the western wing.

Item Type: Article
Authors/Creators:Hall, Robert
Journal or Publication Title: Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Collections: Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:

In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania.

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