ARRANGEMENT OF VIGORS. 39 



been called the Quinary arrangement of Nature. Anrl if it 

 shall indeed be found, upon subsequent and more extensive 

 investigation, that this arrangement exists absolutely in na- 

 ture, the discovery of it will be of infinite importance in all 

 our Zoological researches. 



In accordance with these principles, Mr. Vigors proposes 

 to arrange the Birds in groups of fives, thus: 



Pidibns constringentibus. C Raptores or Birds of Prey. 

 Birds endowed with feet form < Insessokes or Perching 

 ed for grasping. (^ Biros. 



^ Rasores or Gallinaceous 



Pedibus haud constrim^entibus. \ r^„^^^^' tt/ . ... ^ 



Bird.sendowodwMhtVeiiuca-.^^«|;['^^««^« «•• ^aoixg 

 pable of grasping.* i ^atatores or VVes-footed 



^ Birds. 



To understand more easily this arrangement, two dia- 

 grams (from Mr. Vigors* paper) are subjoined ; one of the 

 above families, and another of one of the subdivisions into 

 which Mr. Vigors proposes to arrange Birds. The six 

 primary orders of Linnajus are by Mr. Vigors converted 

 into five, by placing the Pice and Passeres together. 

 This has been done, as it appears, in accordance with na- 

 ture ; but Mr. Vigors quotes Cuvier as countenancing 

 this arrangement. " Malgre tous mcs efforts," says this 

 celebrated naturalist, ** il m'a ele impossible de trouver, 

 ni a Text^ricur, ni a l'int6rieur aucun caract^re propre k 

 separer des passcreaux ceux dcs genres compris parmi les 

 Piece <ic Linnaeus qui ne sontpas grimpeurs.'^ 



It will not be convenient to enter into minute details of 

 this arrangement here ; those who desire more information 



* Although this is the general character of this division, yet 

 there will be found in it many exceptions. Some of the Ra- 

 sores, as well as Grallatores, perch, and consequently 

 grasp. 



