that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 445 



The typical groups are for the most part omnivorous ; the ex- 

 tremes chiefly granivorous. The latter are those which are com- 

 prised by Ray among his " Hat-d Bil'd Birds." The families of 

 the tribe, among which are included the most powerful birds of 

 the order, and those whose general conformation is the most 

 perfect, may be thus arranged*. 



Fringillida. 



SturnidcE. 



Corvida, Leach.. 



Bucerida, Leach. 



LoxiadcB. 

 In treating of the preceding tribe, I have observed that the ge- 

 nus Anthus has been separated from Alauda and placed among 

 the SylviadcB, in consequence of its near affinity to that family, 

 and more particularly to Motacilla, in food, in habits, and struc- 

 ture. Alauda, on the other hand, with equal attention to the same 

 characters, has been arranged with the succeeding groups which 

 form the tribe of Conirostres. These two genera, however, ap- 

 proaching so closely in the form of their wings and of their 

 hind toes, and in the distribution of the colours of their plum- 

 age, cannot be allowed to be far separated from each other. 

 The difference even in the bills of the two genera is softened 

 down by the intervention of a Javanese genus, the Megalurus of 

 Dr. Horsfield, which unites the greater length of that of An- 

 thus to the superior robustness of that of Alauda. The affinity 

 between them is even still further preserved by the medium of a 



* Or thus, with the normal and aberrant families sej-arated : 



formal group. 

 Structuramagisperfectd: vie- f Stumidee. 

 ta universal! "^ Corvidd. 



Aberrant group. r Bucerida. 



Stnictura minus perfecta : vie- J j • i 

 tu praeeipue vegetabili . . J . .,, , 



l^ Iriiigtllida. 



3 M 2 second 



