198 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



The real affinities, therefore, of Chloropsis thus appear to lie with the Brachy- 

 podince ; and should these birds really possess a suctorial tongue, the analogy 

 is only rendered more beautiful. That this kind of tongue also should disappear 

 in the Paradiseadce, the most aberrant group of the Tenuirostres, is what we should 

 naturally expect, as in perfect unison with those principles of variation observed 

 throughout every group in Ornithology. 



We must now glance at these two important, but very unequal divisions, under 

 other points of view. First, their resemblance illustrates the following idea, ex- 

 pressed by Mr. Mac Leay : — " We are struck with the analogy which opposite 

 points of the same circle bear to one another, — an analogy sometimes so strong, 

 that it has been mistaken for a relation of affinity ; and indeed I am still unable to 

 state whether this be not the fact, and that the opposite points of the curve, if I 

 may so express myself, do not meet each other." — " It will be sufficient to state, 

 however, that as this peculiarity of natural distribution was detected by analysis, 

 and the use to be made of it was visible among the Petalocera ; so the discovery of 

 it served to prevent my falling into several mistakes, which I could not otherwise 

 have avoided, in deciding between relations of analogy and affinity as they exist 

 in the more general groups." — Horce Entom., p. 319. In this passage we trace 

 an indistinct perception of other properties of natural groups than those which 

 this talented writer had discovered and explained. 



Now this strong resemblance between opposite points of a circle is universal, 

 but of two very different natures. In the present case it is clearly analogical, for 

 not only are the two groups vastly unequal, but the Dentirostres (which includes 

 the Brachypodince) is a typical tribe, while that of the Tenuirostres is the most 

 aberrant. But if we take the opposite points of the order Insessores, on the other 

 sides of the curve, we have the Fissirostres and the Scansores; and this resem- 

 blance we consider as one of absolute affinity : both these tribes, in fact, are 

 aberrant, and of equal rank, and both, in our opinion, by being actually united, 

 divide the Insessores into three great primary circles. 



Lastly, a few words may be added on the analogies of the Brachypodince and 

 the Crater opodince, which, as we have already shewn, appear to be twofold. 

 Viewing the aberrant groups of the Mendidte and of the Tenuirostres, with refer- 

 ence to the aberrant tribes of the Insessores, we find they represent each other in 

 this manner 



