oj ' M'Leay, Swainson, Vigors, fyc. 177 



tion consists in qualities implied by the name they bear : they 

 are typical. This we cannot deny ; but we may remind our 

 author, that, considered in this light, this part of his theory is 

 nothing new: naturalists have always admitted, that in every 

 group there are species, which, from their superior organisa- 

 tion, &c, may be considered as typical of such groups: in 

 this, however, we must say we cannot perceive any trace of 

 the analogy of form, structure, or economy, mentioned in the 

 fourth proposition, as typical groups vary considerably in all 

 these respects. 



The definite peculiarities of form, structure, and economy, 

 we learn, from perusing Mr. Swainson's work On the Classi- 

 fication of Quadrupeds *, of rapacious or sub-typical groups, 

 consist in their various organs being aptly adapted for living 

 upon and destroying animals both of their own and other 

 species; their carnivorous habits and bloodthirsty disposi- 

 tions ; and a tendency in their colour to assume a spotted or 

 striped appearance. We find this type typically represented 

 in its own "circle" by the jFelidae in Mammalia, and the Fal- 

 conidae in A\es. This is all fair and just : we must examine, 

 however, under what diversified modifications we find it in 

 other groups. It is represented in Quadrumana by Cercopi- 

 thecus, because the species this genus contains are " mis- 

 chievous and malicious " (On the Class, of Quadrupeds, vol. 72. 

 Lardner's Cab. Cyc, p. 72.) ; so that into this simple trait of 

 character has a modification reduced the terrible claws, the 

 enormous canines, the bloody dispositions, and the carnivorous 

 habits of the rapacious type of nature. 



The rapacious type of the Silviadae (warblers), according 

 to our author, is the genus Sylvicola (Treatise on the Geo- 

 graphy and Classification of Animals, vol. 66. Lardner's Cab. 

 Cyc., p. 246.), in which we find the evil propensities, and the 

 formidable weapons, of the primary type, by a curious modi- 

 fication, reduced to an almost imperceptible notch, or tooth, 

 which may be discovered on the upper mandible of the bill of 

 these birds ! 



In the class Insecta, we are told, the rapacious type is re- 

 presented in the SphingicUe (which is a sub-typical, or rapa- 

 cious group of Swainson), by the " singular threatening aspect 

 which the caterpillars of the sphinx moths assume on being 

 disturbed ;" which is a reason sufficient to lead Mr. Swainson 

 to consider it as "a remarkable modification of the terrific 

 or evil nature which is impressed under one form or other 

 upon all sub-typical groups." (Ibid., p. 247.) But the most 



* P. 101. 121, &c. j comp. On the Classification of Animals , p. 245, 246. 



