SYLVIADiE. 207 



SYLVIAN^, 



or typical sub-family, whose circular affinities are explained by the following 

 genera : — 



Genera. 

 1- f Bill compressed, rather lengthened and straight, ) „ , . 



_ . . { , ■ i i j ? Sylvia, Auct. 



J ypical group. [ notched; legs moderate. J 



e , , . , > Bill shorter, more curved, nearly entire ; legs long. Malurus. Vieil.* 



bub-typical group.] J ° ° 



[ ( Priuea, Horsf. 



< Bill variously shaped ; hind toe stronger. < Hid'iota? Sw. 



Aberrant qroup. | „ ,. . _ 



I [ Cuucivora, o\v. 



The passage from Setophaga to the typical Gold-crested Warblers is marked 

 by the genus Cidicivora, where one half of the bill is depressed, and the other 

 compressed ; a singular union of the characters respectively belonging to each. 

 We were long in doubt as to the mode in which the aberrant circle was closed, 

 until our friend Dr. Horsfield very recently communicated to us a new species of 

 Prinea from India, having the depressed Fly-catcher-like bill of the American 

 Culicivorw, with the rictus strongly bristled ! On the situation of these two 

 genera, indeed, there can be no doubt, — the one representing the Scansores, the 

 other the Fissirostres ; but of Hyl'iota we know only two species ; and until 

 the circular affinities of the genera immediately conterminous have been made out, 

 we look on this point of the series as by no means perfect. 



The only material point which will detain us, as connected with the affinities of 

 this division, regards the genus Troglodytes. Modern naturalists generally con- 

 sider these as Scansorial birds : not, indeed, from a partial consideration of the 

 solitary example found in Europe, but from looking to the general affinities and 

 habits of the whole group. The correctness of this opinion has more recently 

 been denied, upon the ground that the tongue of the Carolina Wren is like that of 

 a Certhia ; while the tongue of the winter Wren places it with the Sylviadce. 

 Now, admitting this to be true ; admitting also that the European Troglodytes 

 does not use its tongue to seize its insect food, what does the whole amount to ? 



* Tee beautiful development of tail, seen in this group, might lead us to suspect it to be the Rasorial type of the 

 SylviantB ; and as its contents have not yet been analyzed, there may still be room for doubt. On the other hand, it 

 must be premised, that the genera, thus arranged, a ccurately represent the sub-families of the Merulidce,—a. fact 

 which maybe gathered by comparing this table with those at page 152. We can form no well-grounded opinion on 

 the precise station of the beautiful little Emu bird of Australia : its situation, either with Malurus or Prinea, depends 

 entirely on the analysis of these two groups. — Sw. 



