lOil 



GLAUCOPIS. 



GLAUCUS. 



1013 



Nostrils basal, lateral, partly closed by a large membrane. Feet very 

 strong, formed for walking. The tarsus longer than the middle toe ; 

 lateral toes short, of equal length, and divided to their base ; hind 

 toe strong, armed with a long curved claw. Winga short. Tail rather 

 lengthened, rounded; the feathers ending in setaceous points. 



Glaucopa Tannura. (Tcmm.) 



In the third part of the ' Classification of Birds," in the same vol., 

 Mr. Swainsou states that the QtatteepHUt, or Rasorial Crows, form the 

 only division of the family which he had then analysed with a view 

 to determine its chief generic types. As a whole he thinks that they 

 are distinguished from all other birds by their short finch-like bill, 

 the commissure of which is always arched, and sometimes sinuated 

 like that of a FrinyiUa. The genus Glaucopis, which he considers 

 the pre-eminent type, shows this structure, in his opinion, in great 

 perfection, "added to another which is equally indicative of the 

 rasorial structure, that is, strong walking legs. Following this we 

 have the Senegal Piapec, forming our genus Ptilostomw, intimately 

 related, according to M. Temminck, with his Gamut gymnocephalus." 

 [COKVID<E.] " Upon this authority we conjecture the last-mentioned 

 bird may prove the grallatorial type. The singular genus Brachystoma, 

 from New Holland, long since noticed by us as connecting this bird 

 with the jays, leads at once to the Finch Crows of India, all of 

 which, in our opinion, are merely variations of that type named 

 Crypririna by M. Vieillot. Some of these, from their close resemblance 

 to Glaucopw, have actually been placed in that genus by M. Tem- 

 minck, who seems to have overlooked the entirely different structure 

 of their legs. The circle is thus closed, and we find that these five 

 types represent the primary divisions of the whole class." 



The following are Mr. Swaiuson's views of the position of the 

 Corvidce : He is of opinion that the Cormdte are nearest allied to the 

 Hornbills, although the intervening forms are few. The genus Frigillus 

 (Freyilut ?) is the only representative he at present knows of that 

 vb-fainily which intervenes between the Bucerulie and the Corvin<c. 

 He observes that the whole family has never yet been analysed, so 

 that the leading divisions alone can yet be made out or stated with 

 any degree of certainty ; and says that the little value which can be 

 attached to speculations on the rank of the present genera, founded 

 upon mere synthesis, will best appear by looking to those artificial 

 arrangements that place short-legged Hollers close to the long-legged 

 and powerfully constructed Grakle (Gracvla religioea), two genera 

 moreover which analysis has convinced him do not belong to this 

 family. "Nothing in short," continues Mr. Swainson, "is more easy 

 than to divide a group like this into three, five, seven, or any other 

 given number ; but the divisions must always be considered as tem- 

 porary, until confirmed by analysis. We have not yet carried our 

 investigations so far as to lay before the reader an arrangement of all 

 the genera of this family ; nor will our space admit of an attempt to 

 demonstrate those groups in it which we have already marked out. 



KiT. HIST. D1V. vol.. n. 



We shall therefore merely intimate what we conceive to bo the only 



He excludes from the family Epimachus, as belonging to the Suctorial 

 Birds ; Coracias, as being completely united to Eurystomus by two 

 species ; and Gracula, as united to Pastor among the Slurnidce. The 

 Paradise Birds, hitherto arranged with the Crows, form, in his opinion, 

 the most aberrant group of his Tenuirostres, and one placed between 

 the Hoopoes and the Honey-Suckers. From the Crows he proceeds to 

 the Starlings (Sturnidai). 



In the ' Synopsis of a Natural Arrangement of Birds ' (part iv. of 

 the same vol.), Mr. Swainson observes that " there are a few altera- 

 tions in the arrangement of the groups from what they appear in the 

 foregoing part : this has resulted from further analysis, and by incor- 

 porating our researches up to the latest time." We here find the 

 Oorvida thus arranged : Sub-family Coniuce, Typical Crows Corvus, 

 Pica, Nucifraga, Barita, Vanya, Platylophus, 1'Itonygama. Sub-family 

 Oarnifma, Jays Garrulus, Cyanurus, Dyaornithia, Sub-family Qlim- 

 copince, Wattle Crows Crypsirina, Plilostomus, Brachys/oma, Qlancopu. 

 Subfamily Coracince, Fruit Crows Coracina, Cephaloptcrus, Gymno- 

 cephalus. Sub-family Frigillince (FregilinrE 1 ) which, he remarks, 

 contains at present but two European birds (P. Pyrrhocorax and 

 F. erythropus), which almost appear to be types of as many genera. 

 The characters which he gives are, he observes, more strictly applicable 

 to the first. [CoRViD.E ; CORACINA.] 



GLAUCUS, a genus of Molluscous Animals named by Forster, and 

 placed by Cuvier among his Nudibranchiata ; by De Blaiuville under 

 his Polybrancldata (Family Tetracerata) ; and by Rang made the type 

 of a family, Les Glauques (Glaucidce), which together with Glaucus 

 comprises the genera Laniogerus, De Blainville ; riarcea, Quoy and 

 Gaimard; Eolidia, Cuvier; Carolina, Bruguieres; and Tcrgipes, 

 Cuvier. 



It has the following generic characters : Animal gelatinous, elon- 

 gated, slightly flattened, and terminated backwards in a point. Foot 

 very narrow and almost rudimentary. Head distinct, furnished with 

 four very short flattened and triangular teutacula ; the mouth sub- 

 terminal. Branchia; disposed in pairs on the sides, and fitted for 

 swimming, being formed by oblong processes (palettes oblongues) 

 surrounded by digitated appendages. Termination of the organs of 

 generation in a common tube at the anterior part of the right side ; 

 vent on the same side, more backwards. (Rang.) 



Glaiictts, 



a, common tubercle of the organs of gener ition ; 4, vent ; c, one of the 

 digitations magnified. (Dc Blainville.) a "would rcj resent the anus, according 

 to Mr. Bennett. 



Deshayes, in his edition of Lamarck (who made Glaucus the first 

 genus of his family Tritonians), remarks, that, notwithstanding the 

 researches of several accomplished naturalists, there still exists uncer- 

 tainty as to many points of the anatomy of this genus. The description 

 of M. De Blainville, he observes, leaves doubts concerning the organs 

 of respiration ; nor is it, he adds, certain that the digitations of the 

 fins are branchiae : in the opinion of M. Deshayes they are not. 

 M. Quoy, he continues, says that these digitatious are very caducous 

 in the living animal, which detaches them when they are touched ; 

 and it is not to be believed that this would take place if these parts 

 were destined for so important a function as that of respiration. 

 M. Deshayes therefore points out the necessity of new researches as 

 to the organisation of these animals. The same zoologist states that 

 the majority of naturalists are now convinced that as yet but one 

 species is known ; and he adds, that it must be confessed that the 

 figures given are very inexact, with the exception of that given by 

 Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard (' Voy. de 1'Astr.,' Zool. t. 2, pi. 21, f. 6 to 

 14), which conveys a good idea of this elegant animal. 



Mr. G. Bennett states that during a voyage from England to Sydney, 

 in 4 26' N. lat., 19 30' W. long., with light airs and calms prevailing 

 at the time, a number of damaged and perfect specimens of the Glaum* 

 hcxaptcrygmi (Cuvier), were caught in the towing-net, and placed in a 

 glass of sea-water, where they resumed their vital actions and floated 

 about, exhibiting a brilliancy of colour and peculiarity of form that 

 excited admiration. The back of the animal, as well as the upper 

 surface of the fins and digitated processes, and the upper portion of 

 the head and tail, were of a vivid purple colour, varying occasionally 



3 x 



