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ery Ma 
68 . ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. ~ 
and the five tribes of perching birds: we shall 
place them in the following order :— 
SyvtviaDz, — The Analegtas 
Tribes of the : Subfamilies of 
Perchers. Typical Characters. — the Warblers, 
ill slightly notched ; the most perfect : 
in their respective groups.  syiviane. 
DenTIROSTRES. Bill more distinctly notched. Philomeline. 
FISSIROSTRES. Bill depressed ; the base bristled. Saxicolineg. 
TENUIROSTRES. Bill very weak ; rictus smooth. Motacilling. 
SCANSORES. Climb, and seek their food in trees. Pariane. 
CONIROSTRES. f B 
By this table we get some of the most prominent 
distinctions of both groups. The two first analogies, as 
may be expected, are very remote; but the three next 
are so decided, that they must -strike every reader. 
Who that has seen the stonechats rapidly aa 
over a common, in pursuit of winged insects, is m 
immediately reminded of the swallows, which do 
same upon the wing? Both groups are ‘particularly < 
markable for the great size of their heads, and the broa 
base of their bill; characters universal among all na- 
tatorial and fissirostral types. The Motacilline, or 
wagtails, have the bill unusually slender, and thus re- 
present the wading order ; and the haunts of both are 
always in the vicinity of water. Every one has seen | 
the adroitness with which the tomtit clings to the 
smallest branches of trees, examining every bud, pecking 
at every hole, and indefatigably searching for insects 
hid in such concealments. No other birds have these 
manners but the woodpeckers; and this resemblance 
extends even to the bill, which in both is strong, pointed, 
and entire. ‘ 
(79.) But it may be said, that the stonechats as much 
resemble the gallinaceous order as they do the Fissiros- 
tres, since like them they are continually upon the 
ground, and, in proportion to their size, have the legs 
equally strong. Let us, therefore, draw up a second 
table, in seats these two- groups are placed opposite 
each other; — Ve 
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