of certain Birds of Cuba. 31 



the Glires or Ungulata that we find the corresponding appen- 

 dages of the vertebral axis, — that is, the fore-feet most shortened, 

 — the answer will be, certainly not among the Ungulata ; where, 

 on the contrary, the Giraffe has them extraordinarily lengthened : 

 but among the Glires we have the Jerboa, in this respect almost 

 a bird. In general, moreover, this latter order is distinguished, 

 like the Rasores, by the strength of those muscles of the two 

 posterior appendages of the vertebral axis or hind-feet, that con- 

 tribute to locomotion. Gregarious habits distinguish the most 

 of the Rasores ; so they do in a still more extraordinary manner 

 the Glires. Many are insectivorous in both orders, and some 

 omnivorous. The muzzle or facies of Glires is short and round, 

 very like that of Ferce, there being a direct relation between the 

 two orders. The facies of Rasores is also short and round, very 

 like that of Raptores (the order analogous to that of Fera) ; and 

 there is also a direct relation between these two orders. Many 

 Rasores perch and nestle on trees ; so do many of the Glires. 

 The Rasores generally feed on hard grain, which they pick up 

 with their hooked beak, and masticate in a triturating gizzard : 

 the Glires feed also on hard substances, which they gnaw with 

 their strong hooked incisors, and masticate with their grinders. 

 In both orders the thumb is very often rudimentary. In both 

 orders the tail varies from an extraordinary length, as in the 

 Squirrel and Pheasant, to being very short, as in the Hare and 

 Partridge. Mentioning these two last animals together, we are 

 reminded of a beautiful analogy, stated thus by Hermann, p. 167 . 

 "Tetrao Lagopus, ut et hie aliquam cum Mammalibus analo- 

 giam adducamus, triplici respectu Lepori analogus qu6d digitos 

 subtus lanatos habet, et qu6d Leporis variabilis more hyeme 

 colorem mutat, et qu(^d carnis sapore et colore leporinam refert." 

 No orders in their respective classes present the tail so spread 

 out and flattened as the Glires and Rasores, — witness the Beaver 

 i J and 



