of certain Birds of Cuba. 31 
the Glires or Ungulata that we find the corresponding appen- 
dages of the vertebral axis,—that is, the fore-feet most shortened, 
—the answer will be, certainly not among the Ungulata; where, 
on the contrary, the Giraffe has them extraordinarily lengthened: 
but among the Glires we have the Jerboa, in this respect almost 
a bird. In general, moreover, this latter order is distinguished, 
like the Rasores, by the strength of those muscles of the two 
posterior appendages of the vertebral axis or hind-feet, that con- 
tribute to locomotion. Gregarious habits distinguish the most 
of the Rasores; so they do in a still more extraordinary manner 
the Glires. Many are insectivorous in both orders, and some 
omnivorous. The muzzle or facies of Glires is short and round, 
very like that of Fere, there being a direct relation between the 
two orders. The facies of Rasores is also short and round, very 
like that of Raptores (the order analogous to that of Fere); and 
there is also a direct relation between these two orders. Many 
Rasores perch and nestle on trees; so do many of the Glires. 
The Rasores generally feed on hard grain, which they pick up 
with their hooked beak, and masticate in a triturating gizzard : 
the Glires feed also on hard substances, which they gnaw with 
their strong hooked incisors, and masticate with their grinders. 
Tn both orders the thumb is very often rudimentary. In both 
orders the tail varies from an extraordinary length, as in the 
Squirrel and Pheasant, to being very short, as in the Hare and 
Partridge. Mentioning these two last animals together, we are 
reminded of a beautiful analogy, stated thus by Hermann, p. 167. 
“Tetrao Lagopus, ut et hic aliquam cum Mammalibus analo- 
giam adducamus, triplici respectu Lepori analogus qudd digitos 
subtus lanatos habet, et qudd Leporis variabilis more hyeme 
colorem mutat, et quod carnis sapore et colore leporinam refert.” 
No orders in their respective classes present the tail so spread 
out and flattened as the Glires and Rasores,—witness the Beaver 
and 
