IANIADiE. 105 



especially, in that particular habit of seizing their food, which consists alone of 

 insects, during flight. 



The above results will, however, be rendered more intelligible by a closer 

 analysis of the families themselves ; for which purpose we shall commence with the 



LANIAM, 



as being the typical group first on the list of M. Cuvier's Dentirostres. We 

 commenced a partial investigation of this family several years ago, and dwelt, 

 at some length, upon those forms which appeared to enter within three of the 

 principal groups ; namely, the Laniance, the Thamnophilince, and the Edolianw. 

 Ignorant of the views which another gentleman had taken of these birds, and 

 whose paper had been previously read before the Linnean Society, we were some- 

 what surprised at being told that our observations, if founded in nature, were 

 calculated to overthrow the whole series of affinities therein stated; while, if 

 incorrect, we should be exposing the fallacy of that system we had adopted. By 

 the subsequent appearance of the paper in question, we immediately perceived our 

 own views were not in unison with those of the writer. Yet, as we had conducted 

 our investigation by analysis, so we could not be fully persuaded that the results 

 were false, without giving to the subject a much closer investigation than it had 

 yet received. In such researches, merely to oppose synthesis to synthesis would 

 have been very little to the purpose ; because, by such a principle of combination, 

 the most remote families may be made to appear conterminous, and we might 

 have, as an anonymous writer somewhat ludicrously contends for, " as many natural 

 methods as there are organs." With the hope, therefore, of discovering the true 

 series among the Laniada?, we were compelled to have recourse again to ana- 

 lysis, and to extend this mode of investigation to every group of the entire order 

 of Insessores. If, then, after five years devoted to this research, we finally retain 

 our first impressions, we feel that neither time nor mature consideration have been 

 spared to arrive at truth : the only object we have been desirous of attaining. That 

 perfection of knowledge which time alone unfolds, will probably dispel many doubts 

 and difficulties which are not yet solved or surmounted ; or may, possibly, place 

 the very facts upon which our present views are founded, in a new and unexpected 

 light. But, until that period arrives, we feel persuaded that nothing yet known 

 militates, in an essential degree, against the general opinions on natural arrange- 

 ment that we have adopted. In the progress of this work, we shall endeavour to 

 demonstrate the correctness of these views by a series of facts, as new as they are 

 extraordinary, and by submitting them to tests which have never yet been so 

 rigorously applied to any system. 



