FLUVICOLTN.E OR WATER-CHATS. 88 



it were, with those of the rasorial ; nor is this the 

 only instance where such an approximation is dis- 

 covered. Great bulk, feeble and imperfect feet, and 

 a fondness for water, are the three great indications 

 of such vertebrated animals as belong to the first of 

 these types ; while strong and powerful feet, short 

 but broad wings, and a harsh discordant voice, are 

 chiefly to be found in those groups which represent 

 the Rasores or fowls. Now each of these latter 

 characters are possessed by the birds before us, to 

 which they have superadded one, and but one, of the 

 characters of the Natatores, namely, aquatic habits. 

 Some highly interesting speculations arise out of 

 this, too abstruse, however, for our present discus- 

 sion. Certain, however, it is, that there is always 

 one division of a large group like the present, which 

 either directly or indirectly manifests an attachment 

 to water ; and as this is not seen, so far as we yet 

 know, in the Querulince, it would naturally be ex- 

 pected in that aberrant division which stood on the 

 opposite side of the circle. And accordingly we find 

 it to be so. Querula has three of the natatorial cha- 

 racters, namely, great size (it is the largest bird in 

 the whole family), a very broad and strong bill, and 

 yet remarkably small and weak feet ; but a fourth, 

 the love of water, it seems not to have, so far as our 

 imperfect knowledge of its manners extends. It 

 must be remembered, also, that no animals which 

 are merely analogical representations of a type, re- 

 present all the characters of that type ; a moment's 

 reflection will show this to be a necessary law of 



