432 Mr. N. A. Vigors 07i the Natural Affinities 



until we find, in the slenderer bill of Alcedo, an approaching 

 conformity to the more delicately-shaped bills of the succeeding 

 family of Meropidce. In the present group of HalcyonidcB must 

 be placed the genus Galbula, Briss., which, though distinguished 

 from the present groups by its zygodactyle feet, and as such 

 arranged by modern writers among the true Scansores, was origi- 

 nally included in the genus Alcedo by that great master of natural 

 affinities, Linnaeus, on account of the identity of the general 

 structure and economy of both groups. Here it must necessarily 

 be placed, if we look to natural affinity, rather than to the strict 

 dictates of artificial arrangement ; and with it, I fancy, may be 

 placed some apparently conterminous groups *, of which the toes 

 are equally disposed in pairs. The relationship of all to the true 

 Scansores may be accounted for by the consideration of that ten- 

 dency which opposite sides of a circle of affinity generally evince 

 to approach each other. The very difference, however, between 

 the feet oi Alcedo and Galbula, (which two groups, at the same 

 time it must be remarked, agree more intimately in every parti- 

 cular of the leg and foot, except the scansorial disposition of the 

 toes, than Galbula accords with any of the Scansores in the same 

 characters,) is lost in a species of Galbula which I have lately 

 inspected from Brazil, where one of the hind toes is wanting, and 

 where the foot thus exactly corresponds with that of the three- 

 toed Halcyo7iidcE, or the genus Ceyx of M. Lacepede. That sin- 



* I allude to the genus Capita of M. Vieillot, and some of its afBnities. All these 

 exhibit a decided approximation, in general appearance at least, to Alcedo, Linn. The 

 kindness of Dr. Horsfield permits me here also to mention two new forms of scansorial 

 birds which have lately been added to the collection at the India House from Sumatra. 

 These in the old systems would be referred to Bucco, Linn. But the breadth of the 

 base of the bill, which, although more lengthened, resembles that of Euri/stomus, seems 

 to bring them near to the present groups. If they should eventually be found to come 

 among them, they will most probably unite the Todida to Capito and the other zi/go- 

 dactyle Halcyonida. In colouring also there is a strong similarity among all these birds. 

 — But such remarks are mere conjecture. The relation in question, which I cannot 

 however pass over without an allusion to it, may perhaps only be one of analogy. 



gular 



