that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 437 



known conformation of the same tail-coverts ; their shafts being 

 elongated and projected beyond the webs, in stiif and sharpened 

 points. On looking to the general affinity which the extremes 

 of this family bear to the Muscicapida, and through them to the 

 Fissirostral birds of the last preceding tribe, we may perceive 

 the character of feeding on the wing carried on to the Tyranni, the 

 fork-tailed Dicruri, and more particularly to the Artami or the 

 Piegrieches Hirondelles of the continental writers ; while the de- 

 pressed bill of the same Fissirostral tribe is partially preserved in 

 the groups just mentioned, together with that of Ceblepyris, which 

 meets them at the opposite extreme of the circle of affinity. 

 The gradual manner in which Nature de«erts any particular 

 structure or mode of economy is in this, as in every other in- 

 stance, strikingly and beautifully conspicuous. 



The family of Merulida, connected as above with the Laniadce, 

 comprises a considerable number of species, and many natural 

 genera; but which, like most of the Insessorial groups, have 

 hitherto received but partial examination. The general views by 

 which they seem to be allied among themselves, as far at least as 

 can be judged from their present unorganized condition, may be 

 stated as follows, — but with that expression of doubt which ever 

 attends inquiries like the present, where the absence of accurate 

 information as to the economy of the subjects before us, and of 

 extensive knowledge of the forms connected with them, leaves 

 us no better foundation for our inferences than partial conjec- 

 ture. The genus Myiothera, 111. seems to be the first group of 

 the present family which is connected with the Latiiadce, where it 

 is met by some of the smaller species of Thamnophilus* . This 



group 



* I am happy to find these general views confirmed by the accurate examination 

 which Mr. Swainson has made of ihe Laniada'. The reader may see the hne of con- 

 nexion between Thamnophilas and Myiothera fully established by the intervention of 

 several forms gradually passing into each other, such as the newly established genera 



3 L 2 of 



