446 - Mr. N. A. Vicors on the Natural Affinities 
second group, which forms a section at present of the genus 
Anthus, and of which the A. Richardi, Vieill. may be consi- 
dered the type, where the bill retains the form of that of An- 
thus, but the hind claw assumes the length and straightness of 
the claw of Alauda. The strong affinity that thus exists between 
them receives no interruption, in consequence of their forming 
the extremes of the respective groups to which they belong: 
and thus, though justly placed in different families, and even in 
different tribes, they maintain that natural relationship which so 
intimately connects them. The family of Fringillide, upon 
which we now enter, contains, in addition to A/auda, to which 
Emberiza, Linn. and its affinities seem nearly allied, — the 
greater part of the Linnean Fringille, together with the Linnean 
Tanagre, which approach them in their external characters, 
and in their habits, as far as has hitherto been ascertained. 
These latter groups contain many natural genera, into which 
the nature of my inquiry, limited to a rapid outline of the affini- 
ties that connect the families of the class, will not permit me at 
present to enter, further than to observe, that they may be traced 
from the point of their connexion with the Linnean Fringille, 
back, by a gradual increase of the base of the bill in breadth and 
height, to the family of Loriade, which unites with them at the 
opposite extremity of the series of families which compose the 
tribe. The Fringillide, again, by means of the sharp-pointed 
and lengthened bill of Carduelis, Briss., and by the extension of 
the culinen of the upper mandible in an angular form for some 
extent upon the front of the head, conduct us on the other side 
to the genus Icterus, Briss., which commences the succeeding 
family. Here the genus P/oceus*, Cuv. also seems to hold an 
inter- 
* 'There is another decided line of relationship between the two families, namely, that 
which some species of the Linnean Alauda, particularly Æ. capensis, bear to the Sturnus 
Ludo- 
