Classification of Birds. 461 



Plectrophanes, which resembles Emberiza in the shape of the bill, 

 and the larks in the structure of the feet. It contains the follow- 

 ing genera, Alauda, Linn. Calendula, Linn. Agrodroma, Sw., Macro* 

 nyx, Sw., and Certhilauda, Sw. We must observe, that the charac- 

 ters of Agrodroma, which he considers the insessorial or pre-eminent 

 type, approach so near to those of others, that its type, Anthus ru- 

 fescens, and the other two species, have hitherto always deen arrang- 

 ed with the Pipits. He enters the Pyrrkulince by means of the genus 

 Pyrrhulauda, $w,, a small group, belonging to tropical India and 

 Africa, which indicates an affinity to both sub-families, in the form 

 of its bill and feet ; under this division he also places the genera 

 Pyrrhula, Auct. Psiltirostra, Temm. Hcemorhous, Sw., and Loxia > 

 Linn. It also seems probable, that the bird figured by Mr Gould 

 under the title of Paradoxornis will enter among the bullfinches, 

 whose circle requires to be further analyzed. 



The fifth and last family of the Conirostres, is that of Musopha- 

 gidce, or plantain-eaters, so named from the genus Musophaga, 

 which contains the largest birds of the division, though, as he adds, 

 < s it is by no means clear that it is the real type of the whole fami- 

 ly." That this is the proper station of the birds he has here assem- 

 bled, we are strongly of opinion, though their connections at present 

 with the other Conirostral families is not so prominent or well mark- 

 ed as might be wished for or expected. Three sub-families only 

 appear to be recognized, under the titles of Phytotomiiice, Colince, 

 and Musophagince. They are remarkable for the varied form and 

 structure of their feet ; in some, as the Colies, the whole of the toes a 

 four in number, are brought forward, — a provision in beautiful ac- 

 cordance with the habit they have of suspending themselves from 

 the branches of trees, head downwards. In the Touracous, Cory- 

 thaix, the outer toe is partially reversible, or capable of an outward 

 direction, in Hyreus the toes are only three, while in Phytotoma they 

 are four and arranged like those of the finches. He then traces an 

 analogy between the Corythaix gigantea, and the Buceros galeatus, 

 through which he conceives the union of the two families is effected. 



( To be continued. ) 



