404 Mr. N. A. Vigors on the Natural Affinities 



examples of conterminous families being disjointed from each 

 other by Linnaeus, and grouped in separate orders. This is so 

 much the case, that some of the strict adherents to the Linnean 

 classification have actually placed the same bird in different orders 

 at different times, according as they have fancied it to agree with 

 the different characters of these two conterminous genera. For 

 these reasons, and others on which I shall dwell more fully here- 

 after, I feel no hesitation in deciding with M. Cuvier, that these 

 two Linnean orders may be united into one. The birds that thus 

 compose it may on a first view be considered to be held together, 

 as that distinguished naturalist has also observed, rather by a 

 negative than a positive quality ; rather by not belonging to any 

 of the other orders, than by any immediately striking character 

 of their own. But further observations, as we enter more deeply 

 into their details, will evince that they do in reality possess cha- 

 racters sufficient to separate them from their conterminous orders, 

 and to connect them by a continuous series of affinities among 

 themselves. Among these birds will be found the most perfect 

 type of this class of the animal kingdom. I'he volume of brain is 

 greater among them than in any other order, and their intelli- 

 gence is proportionally stronger. Many of them are omnivorous : 

 some are endowed with the most powerful vocal organs, and, of 

 all the inferior animals, imitate the human voice with the greatest 

 exactness. In this order also may be observed the birds which 

 apply their feet to the greatest variety of purposes ; occasionally 

 using them in climbing, and in taking their food. The foot here, 

 as it were, becomes a hand. It is difficult to give this order a 

 name sufficiently indicative of its character. Neither of the Lin- 

 nean terms are applicable. We cannot assign the name of Pica 

 to a group which, among other birds equally disagreeing with the 

 title, includes the small and delicately-formed Warblers : nor can 

 we, on the other hand, confer the denomination of Passeres on a 

 -3 tribe 



