MERULIDA. — ANALOGIES. 33 
in these assumes the appearance of a hard scale, as 
if covered by a prolongation of the horny substance 
of the beak. The loud, harsh, and disagreeable notes 
of both groups, is another sirigelar point of resemblance 
which almost completes the picture.” * 
(34.) By comparing this family with the tribes of 
the perchers (Jnsessores), we shall gain an explanation 
of several other peculiarities which are not developed by 
the last table. 
Tribes of ; Subfamilies of 
Perchers. Analogies. Thrushes. 
Wings lengthened); bill a 
arched, the tip slightly notched Meruling. 
Wings rounded; bill toothed, and j 
abruptly Hooker i Myotherine. 
Feet very short; mouth Phin iota Brachypodine. 
CONIROSTRES. ° j 
DENTIROSTRES. / 
FIssiROSTRES. insectivorous. 
iy, Feet short; mouth smooth ; recat Gioia: 
ivorous or frugivorous. 
Claws acute, formed for clinging to 
vegetables. f Crateropodine. 
SCANSORES. 
(35.) By this table, the analogy of the orioles, 
scarcely perceived when viewed in direct reference to 
the Grallatores, are brought much more forward. These 
birds, with the whole of the Tenuirostres, or honey- 
sucking tribe, are remarkable for the soft and delicate 
nature of their food; and both, in unison with such 
habits, are destitute of bristles to defend the sides of 
their mouth from injury. The humming-birds sip the 
nectar of flowers, while the orioles feed upon the fruits. 
The ornithologist may have remarked that some peculiar 
habits of the long-legged thrushes ( Crateropodine), could 
not be explained in the last table, by their direct analogy 
to the gallinaceous order (Rasores), the latter living in 
plains, and seldom perching, whereas the former are 
scarcely ever seen upon the ground ; but this is at once 
illustrated by their relation to the climbing-birds (Scan- 
sores), both groups being, in different degrees, scansorial, 
and living almost entirely among the upright stems of 
vegetables. 
* Northern Zoology, vol. ii. p. 163. 
VOL. Il. D 
