LINNASAN 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 Linneus, 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 
Systema Nature edited by Gmelin: some of these we 
have designated by the more classic names since be- 
stowed upon them : — 
Grypogeranus. Secretary. Scopus. Umber. 
Glaucopis. Wattle-bird. Glareola. Pyatincole. 
Scythrops. Channel-bill. | \ Cryptura. Tinaum. 
Prionites. Motmot. Penelope. Penelope, or Guan. 
Aptenodyta. Penguzn. Colius. Coly. 
Cursorius. Courier. Phytotoma. Plant-cutter. 
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 Linneus, 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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