THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



OCTOBER, 1836. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Further Remarks on the Affinities of the feathered Race; 

 and upon the Nature of Specific Distinctions. By Edward 

 Blyth, Esq.* 



There are two modes of estimating the typical standard of a 

 natural group of species. There are two distinct principles 

 upon which, according as we desire to frame a system upon 

 obvious and tangible characters, or upon the physiological 

 relations, that is the true affinities, of species, we may arrive 

 at very different conclusions as to which form is the more 

 worthy to be considered the general type of the whole. I 

 have said (p. 406.), that it is not unusual to find certain 

 characters, which, in typical forms, are comparatively little 

 noticeable, carried out, in particular modifications of those 

 general plans of structure, to a much greater extent ; in ex- 

 emplification of which may be adduced (as a familiar, though 

 not, perhaps, the most striking instance) the great develope- 

 ment of the bill lamina? in the shoveller genus (Spathulea) ; 

 also the perfection of the bill, as a groping instrument, and 

 as a sentient organ, in the snipes and woodcocks ; in consi- 

 deration of which, many naturalists, esteeming these to be 

 the most characteristic peculiarities of their respective major 

 groups, have therefore adopted the above-named genera as 

 the types of extensive natural families. Now, this may be 

 very well in a confessedly artificial system; but, where affinity 

 is to be considered the basis of classification, these forms wilt 

 rather have to be arranged as ultimate modifications of their 

 respective types, in a particular direction. They are neither 



* I wish the reader to excuse, for the present, my not entering into 

 detail on the moultings of birds, as, just now (this being the chief season 

 for moulting), I have some opportunities of considerably extending my 

 information on the subject. 



Vol. IX. — No. 66. p p 



