162 GRALLATORES '. WADERS OR STILTED BIRDS. 



actually frequenting water, others delighting in wet mire, show the 

 general tendency in its application to the higher mammalian struc- 

 ture. Among the Lissencephala the claviculated Rodentia are in 

 many respects like Pachydermata on a small scale, and correspond 

 with them much as the Tenuirostral birds do with the Grallatores, 

 nor is there much difficulty in finding the analogous group among the 

 Lyencephala, the lowest great division of Mammals. We may also 

 note that as Ruminantia correspond with Rasorial birds so the family 

 Struthionidae, among the latter, corresponds with Camehdae among 

 the former, this real analogy in position and relations justifying the 

 the popular comparison of the Ostrich with the Camel. If again we 

 look to the highest order of Gyrencephala the Carnivora, whilst the first 

 place is given to the Felidae, and the Ursidae may probably claim the 

 second. The social habits and tendency to carrion feeding seem to 

 fix the Canidae in the third position, corresponding with Vulturidae 

 among Raptorial birds, the blood-sucking, long and flexible-bodied 

 Mustelidae, which only admit secondary divisions according to the 

 structure of their feet, certainly represent in this order the lower 

 nutritive type, like the Grallatorial birds — and thus lead us on to 

 the Natatorial seals. The worm like figure of the Ophidians among 

 Reptilia and their correspondent groups among Amphibia, repeated 

 in the Eel-like forms of fislies, remind us that these animals in their 

 several classes represent the great class Annulata in the Articulate 

 subkingdom, whilst it may probably appear that each class of this 

 subkingdom has a specially suctorial order. I might point to the 

 flies in a higher, the Bugs in a lower series of Insecta, and very strik- 

 ingly to the Icthyopthira among the primary divisions of Crustacea. 

 The same thing might be illustrated in the Molluscous and Radiate 

 subkingdoms, but that J am wandering too far from my immediate 

 subject, and I have recently pointed out the special suctorial type 

 even among the Protozoa. It is by considerations such as have 

 now engaged us, as it appears to me, that we rise above the elementary 

 and technical in Natural Science to the perception of infinitely varied 

 relations, opening to us a magnificent general system. Our insulated 

 observations are connected and harmonised, order and beauty open 

 more sind more to our delighted view, and whilst recognising every 

 where unity of plan and perfection of design, tiie raptured thought 

 rises from the wonders of creation to the adoring contemplation of the 

 God of Nature, infinite in power, Supreme in Wisdom and Benevolence. 



