DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANISMS. 207 



From the shrikes, moreover, if we can trust to an admitted 

 affinity, come the Thrushes and Blackbirds (Mendidce), whose 

 fine song has blinded us in some degree to their destructive 

 habits ; as also certain corresponding birds of other countries, 

 the Breves of India and Australia, the Water Owsel of Europe ; 

 the Mocking Bird, Water Thrush, and Ant Thrush of America. 

 The Lyre-birds of Australia are also in strong affinity to the 

 thrushes. Here it may be remarked, that the blackbird, as 

 well as the crow, occasionally produces a white offspring, thus 

 returning as it were to the primitive type. 



The meruline family have an extensive progeny in the 

 warblers (fiylviadce), nightingale, stonechat, blackcap, redbreast, 

 redstart, etc., which are specially inhabitants of the groves and 

 thickets, and devourers of insects. The affiliation here is 

 peculiarly distinct : M. Vieillot remarks, " a spotted warbler 

 is to my eye nothing but a thrush in miniature." With the 

 thrushes are also connected the wagtails (Motacillidce) ; in the 

 American water-thrush this affinity is exhibited very strongly. 



The Chough or Red-legged Crow (Fregilus), an omnivorous 

 genus, of familiar habits, may, from the admitted affinity, be 

 set down as the undoubted progenitor of the Starlings and 

 Pastors (Sturnidce), a family in favour with the human species 

 on account of their intelligence, sprightliness, and fine song. 

 " They appear," says Mr. Swainson, " as a smaller kind of 

 crows, which they very much resemble in manners and struc- 

 ture." Allied to the starlings, and probably an offshoot from 

 some local genus, are the Pique-boeufs (Buphagidce) of Africa, 

 which gave occasion to a remark of some importance in the 

 present speculation. These birds derive their food from the 

 parasitic larvaB contained in the skins of ruminant animals, 

 upon whose backs accordingly they take their meals, holding 

 on by their cramp-iron-like feet, and using a forceps-like beak to 

 squeeze out their food. The bird is fitted in a peculiar manner 

 for this mode of existence ; its claws are the most hooked of 

 all birds' claws, overlooking only the birds of prey. It is 

 curious thus to find a bird fitted for a life in intimate connexion 

 with other animals, which we know did not come into exis- 

 tence till after the commencement of birds. Upon the com- 

 mon theory, it would be necessary to believe that the pique- 

 bceuf was called into existence by a special fiat in connexion 

 with the greater phenomenon of the origin of ruminant animals. 

 It almost looks like derision to ask if this be credible, especially 

 when we consider that the pique-bceuf is, in reality, not a bird 



