that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 435 



of the preceding tribe. They appear to succeed* each other 



as follows : 



Muscicapida. 



Laniada. 



Merulida. - 



SylviadcE. 



Pipridce. 



The family of Muscicapidce, which first meets us as we leave 

 the preceding tribe, contains a multitude of species, diffused 

 over every quarter of the globe, and differing in many important 

 points of generic distinction ; but hitherto so ill-defined, and so 

 unsatisfactorily grouped, that any attempt to trace them in de- 

 tail through their affinities in their present confusion, would be 

 as hopeless as it would be foreign to the general views of this 

 inquiry. They are all, however, well united together by the 

 essential characters which distinguish the type of the group ; the 

 notched, depressed, and angular bill, and the strong hairs or 

 vibrissce that surround its base. In these characters, as well as 

 in their manners, they partially correspond with the Laniadce, 

 from the earlier families of which they chiefly differ in their in- 

 ferior power and robustness. 



Entering among the Laniada by the genus Tyranniis, Cuv., 

 which unites them with the preceding Muscicapida, in which 

 family indeed that genus has generally been classed, and from 

 which I would separate it chiefly on account of the strength of 

 the bill, wherein the character of a Shrike is more conspicuous 



* In their typical disposition they may thus be grouped : 



Normqi group. C Laniada. 



Rostris fortioribus '^ MeruUda. 



Aberrant group. C Sylviada. 



Rostris debiUoribus . . . , N Piprida. 



\ Muscicapida. 



VOL. XIV. 3 L than 



