that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 447 



intervening station between the two groups, so as^to render it diffi- 

 cult to decide in which of them we may assign it its station. 



The family of Sturnida embraces a considerable number of 

 groups, approaching each other in their gregarious and migratory 

 habits. They are found in every part of the globe, united in 

 large flocks, carrying destruction among the cultivated fields, 

 and following herds of cattle for the sake of the insects or grains 

 which they may pick up from their bodies or in their neighbour- 

 hood. In addition to the American genus Icterus, and the con- 

 tiguous genera Cassicus and Xanthornus of M. Brisson, together 

 with Pendulinus, Vieill., and several corresponding groups, we 

 may observe the genus Amblyramphus, Leach, united to the fa- 

 mily, as also the Buphaga, Linn., and Pastor and Lamprotornis, 

 which M. Temminck has separated from the Thrushes. The whole 

 of the family, united by their manners and the straight and coni- 

 cal form of the beak, the ridge of which passes back to some 

 extent over the forehead, may be observed by those who cast even 

 a casual glance over the three adjoining groups, to hold an inter- 

 mediate rank between the weaker conformation of the Frinsil- 

 lida and the more powerful structure of the Corvidce. 



The Nucifraga, Briss., our British Nutcracker, closely resem- 

 bling the preceding groups in the form of its bill, in conjunction 

 with Barita, Cuv., introduces us into the family of Corvidce. 

 From that genus we may trace a line of affinities, through some 

 intervening forms, to the Jays and Rollers, Garrulus, Briss., and 

 Coracias, Linn., until we arrive at the Corvus of Linnaeus, which 

 again branches out into several groups closely allied to each 

 other, but differing considerably in the structure of the bill. 



Ludovicianus, or Crescent Stare, of Dr. Latham. This latter bird is well known as the 

 Alauda magna of Linnaeus, and of the American ornithologists. — Wils. Am. Orn. 

 PI. XIX. fig. 2. But its still stronger affinity to the Sturni and Icteri, necessarily 

 places it among them. The former relationship appears to me one of analogy, not of 

 affinity ; while the direct passage between the families is found in Ploceus. 



Hence 



