MUSCICAPIN^E, 115 



however, between these two opposite analogies, we 

 have invariably found that great strength of foot, 

 and disconnection of the toes, is a much more pre- 

 valent, and therefore a more certain indication of 

 rasorial types, than the mere possession of a crest. 

 This opinion is fully confirmed upon looking to the 

 rasorial order itself, where we see that strength and 

 perfection of foot is the universal character, while 

 crests are not possessed by more than one-tenth of 

 the whole. Or, if we reverse the comparison, and 

 look to the Fissirostres and the Natatores, we 

 observe that imperfection of foot is their predomi- 

 nant characteristic. Megalophus^ therefore, may be 

 considered a true fissirostral type ; possessing, how- 

 ever, in its remarkable crest, one of the characters 

 of the genus into which it blends, at the opposite 

 point of the circle, namely, RIdpidura. On the 

 analogy of Monacha to the Tenuirostres there can 

 be but little doubt ; both are the most aberrant in 

 their own circles, and both are remarkable for their 

 cylindrical bills and the advancement of the frontal 

 feathers over the nostrils. The last analogy to be 

 traced, is that between the fantailed flycatchers 

 ^Rhipidura) and the rasorial birds (Rasores}. 

 Adverting to what we have just remarked on one 

 of the primary characters of rasorial types, we find 

 that this group of flycatchers have the longest and 

 the strongest feet of any in the whole circle ; when 

 to this we see added a remarkably broad fan-shaped 

 tail, and several peculiarities of economy which 

 will be subsequently detailed, the analogy becomes 



