556 Classification of Birds. 



been a subject of much doubt and discussion, actually form a por- 

 tion of the fissirostral tribe, an examination of the species, as well 

 as wliat we know of their habits and economy, has satisfied us, al- 

 though some links may be wanting to render their connection with 

 the other groups of a closer nature than it is at present. With the 

 Trogons he associates the Motmots, {Prionites, 111.,) which also pos- 

 sess a serrated bill ; by some of the species such as P. platyrynchus, 

 and a beautiful recent introduction P. superciliaris, a decided affi- 

 nity to the Meropidse and Halcyonidae is indicated. 



The gallinaceous birds, or order Rasores, next claim attention ; 

 but as our analysis has already extended to an inconvenient length, 

 we must confine our remarks to a mere notification of the primary 

 groups of which it and the two remaining orders seem to be com- 

 posed. The rasorial families are the Pavuiiidce, Tetraonidce, 

 Struthionidcp, Columbidce, and Cracidce, or as he afterwards names 

 it in the synopsis Megapodidce. Of these five the two first are the 

 typical and subtypical divisions. The analogies of the rasorial 

 birds with the ungulated quadrupeds, respecting which we have al- 

 ready stated our opinion, are given in the following table. 



Pavonidse Solipedes 



Tetraonidse Ruminantes 



Cracidce Anoplotheres 



Columbidce Edentates 



Struthionidse Pachydermes 



The connection of this order with the Insessores through the me- 

 dium of the Scansores, its analogue, he endeavours to prove, and we 

 think successfully, to be effected by certain birds of the family Cu- 

 culidse, such as G. Crotophaga, Leplosovia, and the Coccyzus Geoff- 

 roxj'ii, and not by Musophaga or Corythaix, as supposed by Cuvier 

 and other writers ; the affinities of the last mentioned genera clearly 

 indicating them to belong to the Conirostral, and not to the Scan- 

 sorial tribe. A few additionarobservations on the affinities of the 

 gallinaceous birds closes this chapter. 



The Grallatorial order, or wading-birds, comprises, in Mr Swain- 

 son's words, " all such families as live both on land and sea, and 

 to whom one element is as essential as the other." The families 

 or primary divisions of the waders are supposed to be comprehended 

 under| the following heads ; Ardeadce, Charadriadce, Scolopacidce, 

 Raliidce, and Tanlalidce. Among the Ardeadce, he places the 

 Cranes, which we were inclined to consider as a distinct family, 

 and that his":family Tanlalidce entered within the circle of the 

 Ardeadce ; our views, however, we confess, may have been errone- 



