THE RASORIAI. FORM IN BIRDS. 



261 



ceived by Linnaeus, when he compared the ruminating 

 quadrupeds to the gaUinaceous birds ; an analogy, in- 

 deed^ so apparent to the commonest observer, that we 

 can only feel surprise at its ever having been questioned 

 by any one, much more by those who are naturalists. 

 Nature seems to have intended that a few of her ana- 

 logies should be stamped by such striking and indis- 

 putable resemblances, that the most ordinary capacities 

 should acknowledge them ; and by giving us, as it 

 were, these landmarks, or stations, to depart from, she 

 seems to have invited and encouraged our further re- 

 search into the more complicated parts of her system. 

 Any theory, therefore, which sets out with denying 

 what the rest of mankind have long perceived, requires 

 more than ordinary proofs of demonstration ; and, at 

 best, is calculated to excite onr caution in its adoption, 

 if not our suspicion of its correctness. There is no 

 one truth in natural arrangement capable of such varied 

 and overwhelming demonstration as that upon which 

 reposes the analogy of the ungulated quadrupeds (Un- 

 gulata) to the rasorial order of birds ; both of which 

 show the highest intelligence, the greatest docihty, and 

 the most cheerful contentment under the domestication 

 of man. We are surrounded with proofs of this, which 

 meet us in every direction. All our quadrupeds of 

 burthen or of food are taken from the Ungulata. The 

 horse, the ox, the sheep, and the goat are in our 

 meadows and pastures ; while the dog is a rasoyial type 

 of the Ferce. 



(320.) Let us now look to the feathered creation. 

 The varied contents of our farmyards belong solely and 

 exclusively to the rasorial type ; for even the common 

 duck, although a natatorial bird, is yet the rasorial type 

 of its own family: this we have elsewhere proved by 

 strict analysis * ; and on the same conclusive evidence 

 can be established the accuracy of the original opinion en- 

 tertained by Linnseus regarding the Ruminantia and the 

 Rasores. But this is not all. It has been our especial 



* Journal of the Royal Institution, new series. No. iv. p. 11. 

 S 3 



