| Summary: | The present work is the study of the avifauna from 92 sites where 250 species have been identified. At present, the avifauna from "La Fage" alone, includes 104 different species. This locality, with some 50 000 determined bird bones, comprises one of the richest Pleistocene bird fauna in the world, after these of Rancho La Brea (California) and of Binagade (Azerbai'djan). Methodical comparisons between populations from Middle Pleistocene and present ones have allowed to show allometrical differences. Some new species or subspecies have been described i Aquila chrysaëtos bonifacti. Buteo rufinus jansoni. Accipiter gentilis brevidactylus. Falco antiquus, Lagopus lagopus noaillensis. Lagopus mutus correzensis, Lyrurus tetrix longipes, Alectoris graeca méditérranea, A. graeca martelens is, Perdix palaeoperdix, Stercorarius pomarinus philippi. Columba livia occitanica. C. livia minuta. C. livia lazaretensis. Nyctea scandiaca gallica. Bubo bubo davidi, Athene noctua lunellensis. Corvus pliocaenus ianossyi and Cor vus antecorax. The following extinct species or subspecies, mainly described in the Middle Pleistocene of Central Europe, have been recognized in France, in layers dated of the same periods Gyps melitensis Lydekker, Falco tinnunculus a ta vus Janossy, Strix intermedia Janossy, Apus submelba Janossy, Pica pica major Janossy, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax primi genius Milne-Edwards, Pyrrhocorax gracuius vetus Kretzoi, Corvus pliocaenus (Portis) and Corvus hungaricus Lambrecht. From an evolutioxmary viewpoint, a progressive increase, or on the contrary decrease in size during the time, can be observed among certain species while among some others different linaeges seem to evolve independently in biogeographical distinct areas. From an ecological and climatic viewpoint birds bring very interesting informations which usually confirm the indications provided by the study of mammals and pollen or sedimentological analysis and allow them to be, in some cases, slightly modified. The comparison of faunas coming from ...
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