404 Mr. N. A. Vicors on the Natural Affinities 
examples of conterminous families being disjointed from each 
other by Linnzeus, and grouped in separate orders. This is so 
much the case, that some of the strict adherents to the Linnean 
classification have actually placed the same bird in different orders 
at different times, according as they have fancied it to agree with 
the different characters of these two conterminous genera. For 
these reasons, and others on which I shall dwell more fully here- 
after, I feel no hesitation in deciding with M. Cuvier, that these 
two Linnean orders may be united into one. The birds that thus 
compose it may on a first view be considered to be held together, | 
as that distinguished naturalist has also observed, rather by a 
negative than a positive quality ; rather by not belonging to any 
of the other orders, than by any immediately striking character 
of their own. But further observations, as we enter more deeply 
into their details, will evince that they do in reality possess cha- 
racters sufficient to separate them from their conterminous orders, 
and to connect them by a continuous series of affinities among 
themselves. Among these birds will be found the most perfect 
type of this class of the animal kingdom. ‘The volume of brain is 
greater among them than in any other order, and their intelli- 
gence is proportionally stronger. Many of them are omnivorous : 
some are endowed with the most powerful vocal organs, and, of 
all the inferior animals, imitate the human voice with the greatest 
exactness. In this order also may be observed the birds which 
apply their feet to the greatest variety of purposes ; occasionally 
using them in climbing, and in taking their food. The foot here, 
as it were, becomes a hand. It is difficult to give this order a 
name sufficiently indicative of its character. Neither of the Lin- 
nean terms are applicable. We cannot assign the name of Pice 
to a group which, among other birds equally disagreeing with the 
title, includes the small and delicately-formed Warblers : nor can 
we, on the other hand, confer the denomination of Passeres on a 
tribe 
