162 CRIMSON ^tT-CR ACKER. 



their migratory habits ; all which, as every one 

 knows, are also the characteristics of the swallo^ 

 family, and of all Fissirostral birds. Those, on the 

 other hand, which represent the Tenuirostres have 

 the longest hills ; and those, again, which typify the 

 gallinaceous tribe, have the strongest feet and the 

 shortest wings. All the species of Coccoborus, how- 

 ever diversified in other respects, have a distinct 

 notch (although small, and the tip not hooked, as 

 in the tanagers) in the upper mandible; and this, 

 we all know, is the great distinction which separates 

 the Dentirostres from the Conirostres. Numerous 

 other analogies might be here pointed out, strength- 

 ening the accuracy of the above arrangement ; but 

 it is quite needless to proceed further. The clue 

 being now given, the experienced ornithologist will 

 be at no loss in following it up ; while the student 

 will thus have an example he can comprehend, of 

 that systematic order of variation in all animals 

 which, the discoveries of every year more and more 

 demonstrate as the fundamental principle of the 

 great plan of creation. We now proceed to the 

 genus Dertroides, the rasorial type of the hard-bills ; 

 it contains at present but one known species, which 

 is likewise of extreme rarity. 



