that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 459 



gruoiis with the group in general, but merely that it is placed at 

 the extremity of it, and forms the passage to another. This is the 

 case with the Certhiadce, which become an aberrant group in the 

 tribe, inasmuch as they deviate from the more perfect formation 

 of the typical Scansores, and at the same time, as will be presently 

 observed, lead the way immediately to the succeeding tribe of 

 Tenuirostres by having in common with them the habit of feeding 

 by the tongue. In addition to Dendrocolaptes, already mentioned, 

 and the true Certhia of the present day, the family before us con- 

 sists of a variety of genera strongly united by their corresponding 

 habits. Among these, Climacteris, Temm., and Orthonyx,'Yevam., 

 preserve the strong shafts of the tail-feathers which are carried on 

 to them from the true Pici. This construction gradually disap- 

 pears in the remaining groups of the family ; but the strong hind 

 toe and the tongue more or less extensile, and serving to spear 

 their prey, is still conspicuous. Among such groups we may par- 

 ticularize the Tichodroma, 111., and Upupa*, Linn., together with 

 the Linnean Sitta and the conterminous form of Xenops, 111. 

 Here also may be associated the Opetiorhynchus and Anabates of 

 M. Temminck, as also the Oxyrhynchus of the same author. This 

 genus may be observed to be connected with those groups of 

 the present family which are united with the genus Yunx of 

 the preceding ; it is a perfect Wryneck^ as justly asserted by 

 M. Temminck t, with a Creeper s foot. I wish not at present, 

 however, to enter into the affinities of these groups. We know 

 but little of them as yet : and every day is bringing in fresh sub- 

 jects, and fresh information on a department of the class which 

 has hitherto, I know not why, attracted but little attention. 

 Neither do I wish to dwell with any particularity on the sue ■ 



* " Ce que le Grimpereau et le Tichodrome font sur les arbres, et le long des mu- 

 railles, la Hitppele fait a terre."— Temm. Man. d'Orn. p. 414. 

 + Man. d'Orn. p. Ixxx. 



VOL. XIV. 3 o ceeding 



