that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 459 
gruous with the-group in general, but merely that it is placed at 
the extremity of it, and forms the passage to another, This is the 
case with the Certhiade, which become an aberrant group in the 
tribe, inasmuch as they deviate from the more perfect formation 
of the typical Scansores, and at the same time, as will be presently 
observed, lead the way immediately to the succeeding tribe of 
Tenuirostres by having in common with them the habit of feeding 
by the tongue. In addition to Dendrocolaptes, already mentioned, 
and the true Certhia of the present day, the family before us con- 
sists of a variety of genera strongly united by their corresponding 
habits. Among these, Climacteris, Temm., and Orthonyx, Temm., 
preserve the strong shafts of the tail-feathers which are carried on 
to them from the true Pici. This construction gradually disap- 
pears in the remaining groups of the family ; but the strong hind 
toe and the tongue more or less extensile, and serving to spear 
their prey, is still conspicuous. Among such groups we may par- 
ticularize the Tichodroma, Ill., and Upupa*, Linn., together with 
the Linnean Sitta and the conterminous form of Xenops, lll. 
Here also may be associated the Opetiorhynchus and Anabates of 
M. Temminck, as also the Oryrhynchus of the same author. This — 
genus may be observed to be connected with those groups of 
the present family which are united with the genus Yunx of 
the preceding ; it is a perfect Wryneck, as justly asserted by 
M. Temminck*, with a Creepers foot. I wish not at present, 
however, to enter into the affinities of these groups. We know 
but little of them as yet: and every day is bringing in fresh sub- 
jects, and fresh information on a department of the class which 
has hitherto, I know not why, attracted but little attention. 
Neither do I wish to dwell with any particularity on the suc- 
* “ Ce que le Grimpereau et le Tichodrome font sur les arbres, et le long des mu- 
railles, la Huppe le fait a terre."—Temm. Man. d'Orn. p. 414. 
+ Man. d'Orn. p. lxxx. 
VOL. XIV. 30 ceeding 
