258 Observations upon the Affinities 



abundantly suffices to shew its appropriate systematic station. 

 The resemblance which the parrots bear to the pigeons, in 

 the particular of secreting a lacteal fluid for the nourishment 

 of their young, may seem of importance ; but I am inclined to 

 regard this as a coincidence, rather than as a token of affinity. 



In every branch of natural history, except Ornithology, it 

 would be superfluous at the present day to remark, that the 

 resemblances which subsist among organisms are of two dis- 

 tinct kinds, — namely, rudimentary and adaptive, or intrin- 

 sical, as opposed to superficial, — characters indicative of 

 affinity, or physiological proximity, and those which imply 

 simply what is understood by the term analogy. It is trite to 

 affirm that the whale is in every essential feature a true mam- 

 malian, though modified to pass its life after the manner of 

 fishes ; yet on precisely the same principle that that animal 

 is still vulgarly classed with fishes, has the Alectura been 

 placed with the vultures, and the Megapodius with the curas- 

 sows; the only difference being, that in these instances groups 

 of a lower degree of value are concerned. Analogous approx- 

 imations might be cited without number ; as, in the Insesso- 

 res alone, those of the swifts to the swallows, the todies to 

 the dentirostral flycatchers, the hoopoes to the creepers or 

 Promerops group, the Scythrops to the toucans, the humming 

 birds to the sun-birds, (Cinnyrida), &c. while separations, 

 equally at variance with every physiological accordancy, 

 have been necessarily as frequent. How indeed could it be 

 otherwise, when the internal structure of a bird has received 

 not even the slightest share of attention on the part of those 

 who, nevertheless, venture to speak authoritatively respect- 

 ing the affinities of groups ? When the adaptive characters 

 of species have, confessedly, been allowed the precedence of 

 their rudimentary distinctions ? 



The composition of the group Fissirostres of modern Eng- 

 lish systematists, may be adduced as a very forcible illustra- 

 tion of the heterogeneous associations necessarily consequent 

 on the adoption of the preposterous mode of classifying which 

 is here impugned. 



Of course, such gross violations of affinity continually in- 

 tercept extensive, and sometimes important, generalizations. 

 Thus, the improper admittance of the rain fowl, (Scythrops), 

 into the Rhamphastidce, and of the Menura into the Craci- 

 dce, extends the distribution of both these families into Aus- 

 tralia; whereas their legitimate components are inhabitants 

 solely of South America. Again, the vast region of Australia 

 is remarkable for possessing no known species appertaining 

 to the vulture family, (a fact which may be regarded in con- 



