that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 447 
intervening station between the two groups, so as to render it diffi- 
cult to decide in which of them we may assign it its station. 
The family of Sturnide embraces a considerable number of 
groups, approaching each other in their gregarious and migratory 
habits. ‘They are found in every part of the globe, united in 
large flocks, carrying destruction among the cultivated fields, 
and following herds of cattle for the sake of the insects or grains 
which they may pick up from their bodies or in their neighbour- 
hood. Jn addition to the American genus Icterus, and the con- 
tiguous genera Cassicus and Xanthornus of M. Brisson, together 
with Pendulinus, Vieill., and several corresponding groups, we 
may observe the genus Amblyramphus, Leach, united to the fa- 
mily, as also the Buphaga, Linn., and Pastor and Lamprotornis, 
which M. T'emminck has separated from the Thrushes. The whole 
of the family, united by their manners and the straight and coni- 
cal form of the beak, the ridge of which passes back to some 
extent over the forehead, may be observed by those who cast even 
a casual glance over the three adjoining groups, to hold an inter- 
mediate rank between the weaker conformation of the Fringil- 
lide and the more powerful structure of the Corvide. — 
The Nucifraga, Driss., our British Nutcracker, closely resem- 
bling the preceding groups in the form of its bill, in conjunction 
with Barita, Cuv., introduces us into the family of Corvide. 
From that genus we may trace a line of affinities, through some 
intervening forms, to the Jays and Rollers, Garrulus, Briss., and 
Coracias, Linn., until we arrive at the Corvus of Linnæus, which 
again branches out into several groups closely allied to each 
other, but differing considerably in the structure of the bill. 
Ludovicianus, or Crescent Stare, of Dr. Latham. "This latter bird is well known as the 
Alauda magna of Linnæus, and of the American ornithologists.—Wils. dm. Orn. 
Pl. XIX. fig. 2. But its still stronger affinity to the Sfurni and Icteri, necessarily 
places it among them. The former relationship appears to me one of analogy, not of 
affinity; while the direct passage between the families is found in Ploceus. 
Hence 
