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



first family of the Scansores which meets our attention. There 

 is seldom, perhaps, a surer guide to relations of affinity and 

 analogy than common observation ; and a trivial or provincial 

 name often anticipates the more correct and scientific views of 

 the naturalist. In seeking for the immediate point of junction 

 between the two tribes now before us, we are in this manner 

 directed at once to the object of our search ; a scansorial ge- 

 nus, belonging to the family of Ramphastidce, the Scythrops of 

 Dr. Latham, being designated, as may be seen in the Collection 

 belonging to this Society, by the denomination of " Psittaceous 

 Hornbill." Whoever will compare this bird with some of the 

 extreme species of the Buceros, those I mean without the protu- 

 berance on the bill, will readily acknowledge the appropriate- 

 ness of the title, and recognise the affinity which leads us from 

 the preceding to the present tribe. The scansorial families may 

 thus be grouped * : 



renfl6 en dessus, rend si remarquables et lie avec les Toucans." — Cuvier, Regne Anim. i . 

 p. 418. The general accounts which we have of the manners of these birds tend equally 

 to assimilate them. Mr. Swainson informs me, from observations made during his re- 

 searches in South America, that he has every reason to suppose that the Ramphastidtt 

 are accustomed to feed during the season of incubation upon the eggs and young of other 

 birds. I have here to add, that a specimen of the R. erythrorhynchos, Gmel., now alive 

 in this country, shows an evident partiality to animal food, and a disposition to prey upon 

 weaker birds. I am informed that, shortly after its arrival in this country, it seized upon a 

 small-bird that accidentally came within its reach, and devoured it in a truly raptorial 

 manner. It has since been occasionally fed with small-birds, and with eggs, which seem 

 to be its favourite food. Tliese manners accord with those of Buceros, as detailed in 

 M. Cuvier's valuable observations. See note *, p. 449. Nov. 1824. 

 * Or in this manner, if we distinguish the typical families : 



Normal group. 

 Digitis zygodactylis, haud rctrac- J -iStttUCKUB. 



t'libus j^ Picida. 



Aberrant group. 

 Di'gitis aut tribus anticis et uno j ^ertniad^. 



postico scansorio, aut zygo- J CuCuUdcE. 



dactyli8,atretractilibus . . . |^ Ramphastidx. 



Ramphastidce 



