DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANISMS. 187 



cillidae) ; in the American water-thrush this affinity is ex- 

 hibited very strongly. 



The Chough or Red-legged Crow (Fregilus), an omnivo- 

 rous genus, of familiar habits, is, from the admitted affinity, 

 the undoubted progenitor of the Starlings and Pastors 

 (Sturnida}, a family in favour with the human species on 

 account of their intelligence, sprightliness, and fine song. 

 " They appear," says Mr. Swainson, " as a smaller kind of 

 crows, which they very much resemble in manners and 

 structure." Allied to the starlings, and probably an offshoot 

 from some local genus, are the Pique-boeufs (.Buphagidai) of 

 Africa, who give occasion to a remark of some importance in 

 the present speculation. These birds derive their food from 

 the parasite larvae contained in the skins of ruminant animals, 

 upon whose backs accordingly they take their meals, holding 

 on by their cramp-iron-like feet, and using a forceps-like 

 beak to squeeze out their food. The bird is fitted in a 

 peculiar manner for this mode of existence ; its claws are the 

 most hooked of all birds' claws, overlooking only the birds of 

 prey. It is curious thus to find a bird fitted for a life in inti- 

 mate connexion with other animals, which we know did not 

 come into existence till after the commencement of birds. 

 Upon the common theory, it would be necessary to believe 

 that the pique-bo?uf was called into existence by a special fiat 

 in connexion with the greater phenomenon of the origin of 

 ruminant animals. It almost looks like derision to ask if this 

 be credible, especially when we consider that the pique-bceuf 

 is, in reality, not a bird standing in a solitary distinction of 

 characters, but only a kind of starling adapted to special 

 habits. Yet the reigning opinion of naturalists, if true to 

 itself, can in no way escape from the absurdity to which our 

 question reduces them. 



Near to the starlings, but perhaps only by collateral rela- 

 tionship, is an important genus, numerous in both Europe 

 and North America, the Larks (Alaudidd), a ground-inha- 

 biting, seed-eating, innocent race, endeared to us by the 

 habit so noted in certain species of rising high in the air, and 

 there pouring out their beautiful and joyful songs. There 



