298 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



CURTIPEDES. 



Having now quitted the two typical circles of the insessorial or perching- order, 

 namely, the Dentirostres and the Conirostres, we proceed to the third, or 

 aberrant circle, formed by the Scansores, Tenuirostres, and Fissirostres of 

 modern authors. Notwithstanding the diversity of forms which Nature has assem- 

 bled in the circle of the Curtipedes, they are all typically characterized, either by 

 their short feet, or by a bill more or less entire. Some, indeed, have this latter 

 member serrated ; but, with only one exception (the Melliphagidw), do we observe 

 a development of that distinct indentation at the tip of the mandibles, which in 

 the Dentirostres assumes the appearance of a tooth, and in the Conirostres 

 that of a notch, more or less deep. We shall first notice the 



SCANSORES, 

 or climbing birds, as being that division which touches the Conirostres by means 

 of the Ramphastidce. The families composing this group are so peculiarly distinct 

 in their typical examples, that it would be almost impossible to mistake them. 

 Mr. Vigors, and more particularly Mr. Mac Leay, have done much towards demon- 

 strating the correctness of the following series, which we believe to be perfectly 



natural. 



1. Typical group. 



Analogies. Families. 



i Bill strong, lengthened, conic, entire; feet formed 1 

 Conirostres. -J > Picid;e. 



' { 



for ascending. 



2. Sub-typical group. 



. Bill short, arched, generally toothed ; feet ) 

 Dentirostres. {-,«.,. } Psittactd;E. 



•{ 



formed for clasping. 



3. Aberrant group. 

 Fissirostres. "j r Ramphastid^. 



Tenuirostres. > Bill much weaker, or very light. < CuculidjE. 



Scansores. j I Certhiadje. 



Although we have adopted this disposition of the families, it will be perceived 

 that we differ most essentially from Mr. Mac Leay (Linn. Trans., xvi., pp. 45, 46) 

 in our views of the true analogies they respectively bear to the leading divisions 

 of the Insessores. But as this point demands a longer and more comprehensive 

 discussion than our present rapid survey will admit of, we purpose resuming it 

 in another place. 



