MERULID.E. 151 



are remarkably long*. Now the affinity which these Thrush-billed Shrikes bear 

 to the genus Trichophorus did not escape the observation of M. Temminck, who 

 first defined the latter ; and which group he accordingly places immediately pre- 

 ceding Edolinus. The plumage, however, of the one being invariably black, and of 

 the former as invariably green, the absolute connexion between the two could not 

 be demonstrated until the discovery of some bird which united in itself a peculiar 

 structure, joined to other characters belonging to both these forms. Such a bird we 

 were fortunate in procuring from a most respectable dealer in Paris (M. Florence 

 Prevost). The formation of its wing clearly points it out as a bird of the Old World, 

 and it is labelled, "Merle du Senegal, non decrit." Its bill approaches to 

 Trichophorus, (which is nearly that of Edolius upon a smaller scale,) and the 

 whole plumage is entirely black. There is, however, a peculiarity in the tarsi 

 which we cannot, at present, rightly comprehend, otherwise than by supposing that 

 Nature passes from the Edoliance to the Thrushes by means of a terrestrial bird, 

 in the same manner as she effects a junction between the Tyr annum and the true 

 Fly-catchers, at the opposite passage out of the circle of the Laniadce. In the 

 Merle de Senegal, the tarsi, without being longer, are more slender than those of 

 Edolius or of Trichophorus, both of which, also, have the hind toe fully equal, or 

 even longer than the middle toe; but, in our Merle, the middle toe, as in all birds 

 which frequent the ground, is by far the longest ; while the claws, in union 

 with such a conformation, are rather slender and somewhat less curved. There 

 is still, however, room for other intervening forms between Edolius and Tricho- 

 phorus; for we do not consider this bird as demonstrating their union, although 

 we are fully persuaded that the true passage from the Shrikes to the Thrushes lies 

 between these two genera. 



It will be the object of the following pages to demonstrate that the groups of 

 the Merulidce form three primary circles, composed of the following families! : — 



* It is, no doubt, to an error or a fancy of the ignorant bird-stuffer who set up the specimen from which this figure 

 was taken, that the bristles are represented as standing erect like horns ! The vagaries which these people, particu- 

 larly those of England, indulge in, deserve severe reprehension. 



| In the system of Mr. Vigors the circle of Merulidce is thus marked out : Urotomus, Myothera, Pitta, Conopophaga, 

 Cinclus, Chanueza, Merula. Sphecotheres, Oriolus, Cossypha, Timalia, Petrocincla. 



