CHARADRIUS CRISTATUS. 



separated from it by Vieillot, who has figured T. leucopterus, the Tana- 

 gra nigerrima of Gmelin, as the type. Mr Swain son, in his later ar- 

 rangement of the genus, has made Tanagra atricilla, Linn, (the bird which 

 forms Vieillot's genus Lanio), the type, and has of course excluded some 

 of the conic billed species which could not agree with this, and formed 

 them into his new genus Tiaris. We certainly like this arrangement bet- 

 ter ; for even if we took Vieillot 's type, some of those with weaker bills 

 did not at all coincide with the real characters ; and on the other side, we 

 admit some which must have before been excluded, although they ap- 

 proached nearer to this than to any other group. Of their habits we know 

 very little ; but to judge from their appearance, it is probable that they feed 

 chiefly on grains and seeds, though partly insectivorous, for which purpose 

 in some species, the form of the bill appears considerably fitted. They 

 are all natives of South America. 



