﻿284 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



and it must be confessed that if clear conceptions of 

 the difference between analogy and affinity are not en- 

 tertained, such a classification has some plausible rea- 

 sons to recommend it. The feet, in fact, of the two 

 birds, are formed nearly on the same principle ; but, 

 then, so are those of Orthonyx, a little scansorial bird 

 not much bigger than a robin. All three genera, in 

 short, are remarkable for their large disproportionate feet, 

 long and slightly curved claws, and 'the equality of 

 length, or nearly so, of the outer and the middle toe. 

 It is by instances such as these that we perceive the 

 full extent of those unnatural combinations which result 

 from founding our notions of classification from one set 

 of characters, and forgetting to look at the full conse- 

 quences of carrying those notions into extended oper- 

 ation. Nor is this the only peculiarity of the New 

 Holland vulture ; for, unlike all others of its family, it 

 possesses eighteen feathers in its tail. An examin- 

 ation df the bill {fig. 92.), 

 which is decidedly rap- 

 torial, joined with many 

 other considerations, shows 

 that all these are but ana- 

 logical relations to the 

 Rasores, while the real 

 affinities of the bird are 

 in the circle of the VuL 

 turidce, of which it forms the rasorial type. A per- 

 fect specimen of this very rare vulture, now before us 

 (procured by Mr. Allan Cunningham in the forests ad- 

 joining Van Diemen's Land), enables us to speak of its 

 structure from personal examination. 



(235.) The fissirostral type is no less strongly marked 

 than is the rasorial. This is exhibited in the bearded 

 vulture of the Alps, forming the genus Grypatus of 

 Storr, the only example yet discovered of this particular 

 form. It has the lengthened bill of the vulture, but 

 the boldness and rapacity of the falcon family. The 

 fissirostral type or form is clearly manifested in its 



