GUBERNETES. 91 



and the claws, although sharp, very slightly cur- 

 ved ; this structure of foot, in short, is exactly what 

 we find in all the water-chats, hut Gubernetes is the 

 only type which still retains a small row of those 

 minute lateral scales on the tarsi, which are so con- 

 stant in all the groups we have yet mentioned ; the 

 stiff rictal hristles of the insectivorous hirds are 

 now fully developed, and we have obviously quitted 

 all those groups which feed in some degree upon 

 fruits. Azara is the only writer who says any 

 thing of the habits of this remarkable bird, which 

 we shall call the Swallow Black-cap*. During flight, 

 it seems to open and close its forked tail ; it fre- 

 quents humid situations, associated in small flocks, 

 and seeks upon the ground for worms and insects. 

 Hence we see the use of its possessing strong feet 

 and somewhat straight claws ; thus combining the 

 leading characters of the Psariance and the Fluvi- 

 colince. 



* No names in our vernacular nomenclature can be more 

 valuable or expressive than those which express both the 

 analogy and affinity of the object. It is evident that Guber- 

 netes has analogy to the Hirundinida or Swallows, while ifc 

 nevertheless truly belongs to the Psariana or Black-caps. 



