164 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



We have before stated our conviction that the Merulidce and the Laniadce are 

 the two typical groups of the Dentirostres. To shew that there is good ground 

 for this belief, we shall now state the general analogies between the leading 

 groups of these families. 



Fam. LANIAD^E. Fam. MERULID^J. 



Laniance . . Bill gradually arched ; wings pointed Merulince. 



ThamnopholinaeB'iW straight, abruptly hooked ; wings rounded. . . .Myotherince. 



Edoliance . . Feet short ; hind toe lengthened . Brachypodince. 



Ceblepyrince. .Rictus smooth ; rump feathers thick, spinous, or rigid . Oriolince. 

 TyrannincB . .Tail broad; rictus bristled : insectivorous Crateropodince. 



The last analogy is so obscure, that we for some time questioned the accuracy 

 of the whole arrangement. Subsequently, however, we invariably observed, upon 

 trying to discover the analogies between typical circles, that at such points as are 

 most remote, the resemblances are also most remote. A moment's reflection will 

 shew that this cannot be otherwise. The Tyrannince, for instance, and the Crate- 

 ropodincB stand at the utmost limits of their own circles ; and, necessarily par- 

 taking of many of those characters which belong to groups beyond those circles, 

 it is only surprising that nature preserves any resemblance between them. The 

 analogy which the Orioles bear to the Caterpillar-catchers is not only strong, but 

 particularly beautiful. In both groups the structure of the wing is the same ; so 

 also are the feathers on the rump ; but those of Oriolas, and of Irena, Horsf., 

 from being less strong, offer little or no resistance. These, in fact, are the only 

 groups in their respective circles where the rictus is broad, wide, and smooth ; the 

 one living chiefly upon soft caterpillars, the other upon soft fruits. To dwell upon 

 the resemblance of the Short-lesrs-ed Thrushes to the Edolianw is needless, since 

 they are united by absolute affinity; while the general analogies between the Bush 

 Shrikes and Ant-Thrushes have already engaged our attention, and will presently 

 be viewed more in detail. It only remains, therefore, to establish the analogy 

 between the true Shrikes and the Merulina or typical Thrushes, — these groups 

 standing opposite to each other in the foregoing table. As it is highly important 

 to our present views that this relation should be established beyond all doubt, and 

 by the unbiassed testimony of others, totally unconscious of the use that would 

 subsequently be made of their observations, we have brought together the most 

 striking peculiarities of two birds, which may be considered the types of their 

 respective families ; namely, the Lanius Carolinenris of authors, and the common 



