162 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



The first group we are to notice in the sub-family of the 



MERULIN.^, 



or True Thrushes, is composed of such as frequent rocks, or stony ground; having 

 rounded wings, lengthened tarsi, and feet more adapted for walking than for 

 perching : such birds, in short, as appear to enter in the genus Petrocincla, Vig. 

 Between these and the Song Thrushes the affinity is too marked, and too close, to 

 require pointing out. The genus Merula comprehends the Blackbird, Throstle, 

 and the whole of the European Thrushes ; and numerous species of this typical 

 group are found in every temperate and tropical region, both of the Old and New 

 World. The genus Orpheus, Sw., has a more limited range ; no examples 

 occur in Europe ; and such as exhibit the typical structure are all from America. 

 If we regard the uncommon powers of song possessed by the Mocking-Birds, as 

 sufficient to confer upon them the typical distinctions of this family, the genus 

 Orpheus will hold that station. But if we consider that a more perfect organiza- 

 tion for all other purposes, should guide us in this decision, then the title must be 

 conferred upon Merula ; in either case the peculiarities of the two groups point 

 them out as the leading types of the whole family. We have not yet satisfied 

 ourselves on the precise nature of the two remaining types of this division, and 

 shall therefore forbear hazarding any opinion. That the Meridince unite with 

 the Long-legged Thrushes, we can, however, entertain no doubt. The Orpheus 

 rufus of North America exhibits, like these latter birds, a perfectly entire bill, 

 strong feet, short wings, and lengthened tail ; and when such an ornithologist as 

 M. Temminck describes our Orpheus longirostris (which, in fact, is the Mocking- 

 Bird of Mexico) as a decided Pomatorhinus, the absence of the intermediate forms 

 will not, in our opinion, materially affect the accuracy of our arrangement. 



The appearances of Nature, nevertheless, are so deceptive, that the oldest and 

 most experienced of her students are perpetually mistaking her relations ; and if 

 we were to proceed only by the synthetic method, or even by simple analysis, 

 we may be deceived into combinations the most artificial that can well be imagined. 

 Hence it is fortunate that every arrangement, thought to be natural, peremptorily 

 requires being brought to the test of analogical relations ; and these, as we before 

 observed, are so many, and so severe, that if our interpretation of Nature will 

 stand such trials, we may confidently hope that no very glaring error has been 

 committed. For this purpose, let us first look to the five great orders of birds as 

 the primary test by which we must try the 



