LINN^AN SYSTEM. REMARKS. 149 



' * Upper mandible notched at the end. (Dentirostres Sw.) 



Turdus. Thrush. Bill subulate, compressed at the base. 

 Ampelis. Chatterer. Bill subulate, depressed at the base. 

 Tanagra. Tanager. Bill subulate, conic at the base. 

 Muscicapa. Flycatcher. Bill subulate, fringed at the base. 



** Bill straight, simple, tapering. 



Parus. Titmouse. Bill subulate; tongue truncate; front 



reversed. 

 Motacilla. Warbler. Bill subulate ; tongue jagged ; hind 



claw moderate. 



Alauda. Lark. Bill subulate ; tongue cleft ; hind claw long. 

 Sternus. Starling. Bill subulate, depressed at the point. 

 Columba. Pigeon. Bill subarched ; nostrils covered with a 



tumid membrane. 



(201.) Such are the only genera of birds instituted 

 by Linnaeus, amounting only to 79. Dr. Latham and a 

 few of his other disciples have the credit of defining the 

 following, which are incorporated in the edition of the 

 Sy sterna Natura edited by Gmelin : some of these we 

 have designated by the more classic names since be- 

 stowed upon them : 



Scopus. Umber. 

 Glareola. Pratincole. 

 Cryptura. Tinaumu. 

 Penelope. Penelope, or Guan. 

 Colius. Coly. 

 Phytotoma. Plant-cutter. 



Grypogeranns. Secretary. 

 Glaucopis. Wattle-bird. 

 Scythrops. Channel-bill. \ 

 Prionites. Motmot. 

 Aptenodyta. Penguin- 

 Cursorius. Courier. 

 Vaginalis. Sheathbill. 



(202.) We are to judge of these groups, not as 

 regards their combination into orders (for that, as we 

 have already seen, is in many respects highly objection- 

 able), but as assemblages of species, which our author 

 terms genera. Here, in truth, lies the great and striking 

 merits of the ornithological labours of Linnaeus, and 

 where his vast superiority over all who had preceded 

 him is most conspicuous. He placed together a number 

 of objects which, in external structure, or rather in 

 general appearance, possessed such characters in common, 

 as enabled him to give to each a short and clear defi- 

 nition. Having attained this, the artificial object of 

 his system required him to look no further : he was 

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