BOOK NOTICES. 



C03 



The Dicmrida are another rather isolated family, somewhat Muscieapine, some- 

 what Laniine, and vet showing a slight affinity towards the Orioles. 



There remain, therefore, only the Larks and the Wagtails, both families standing 

 somewhat apart, but we believe that too much has been made of the scutellate 

 pi ant a tarsi Of the Larks, and that they are really closely allied to the Finche 

 through the Buntings, and especially connected by Plectrophenax of the Em- 

 berizidoe and Otocoris of the AlaudidcB. 



The Motacillidee, with their lark-shaped wing and their lark-like nesting habits, 

 ought not to be very far from the Alaudidcs, though with affinities pointing to the 

 Sylviidte 



Dr. Shufeldt, in bis recently published "Contributions to the Comparative 

 Osteology of the Families of North Americau Passeres," has arranged the latter in 

 the following order : — 



Order. 



Sub-order. 



Families. 



Fasseres \ Osci 



ines 



fClamatores 1. Tyrannidae 



2. Laniidae 



3. Ampelidae 



4. Hirundinidae 

 5- Alaudidag 



6. Certhiidae 



7. Vireonidaj 



8. Motacillidae 



9. Sylviidee 

 10. Casrebidae 



{ 11. Mniotiltida3 



12. Cinclidae 



13. Troglodvtidae 



14. Turdidae 

 15- Paridae 



16. Tanagridee 



17. Fringillidae 



18. Icteridae 



19. Sturnidae 

 1.20. Corvidse 



Now, it is difficult enough at any time to arrange families of birds in linear- 

 sequence, so as to preserve a correct notion of their natural affinities, because, how- 

 ever easily one may commence the order, a sudden stop must ensue when the limits 

 of natural groups are reached, and a fresh start must be made. This must be the 

 case, for instance, when we come to a family like the Sylviidce, which have many 

 close allies, and cannot stand in the linear system between more than two of them 



We propose the following linear arrangement of the families of Oseines, as the 

 best compromise which has suggested itself to us. 



1. Corvidas (Crows). 



2. Paradisiidse (Birds of Paradise). 

 Ptilonorhynchida? (Bower Birds) 



4. Sturnida? (True Starlings). 



5. Eulabetidaa i^Tree Starlings). 



40 



6 Artamidas (Swallow Shrikes). 



7. Dicruridse (Drongos). 



8. Oriolidsj (Orioles). 



9. Ieteiida; (HangncstsV 

 10. Ploceidas (Weaver Birds). 



