﻿356 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



scientific observer would not at first detect their true 

 nature. As both families represent the scansorial or 

 climbing tribe, we find that the ends of their tail 

 feathers terminate in points, more or less developed : 

 witness, Sylvia, Parus, Sylvicola, Setophaga, &c, among 

 the Sylviadce, and the whole of the true Meliphagidce in 

 the other family. The valuable information on the 

 habits of the paradise birds (Paradisidce), given by 

 M. Lesson, confirms our previous supposition that they 

 were analogous to the fruit-eaters of America : both 

 are the largest birds in their respective tribes ; both 

 feed almost entirely upon fruits ; both have the plumage 

 particularly brilliant, and developed in the most extra- 

 ordinary and unusual manner ; and both have short but 

 very strong feet, with the hind toe very large. A single 

 glance at the feet of the African hoopoes (Promero- 

 pidce), and those of the typical flycatchers (Eurylazmiis), 

 shows in how beautiful and perfect a manner the two 

 families correspond ; both representing, at the same 

 time, the short legged, web-footed, order of swimming 

 birds (Natatores) , not only by the peculiar imbecility 

 of their feet, but by always living in the vicinity of 

 water. 



(296.) From the last family we continue our com- 

 parison to the Fissirostres, or swallow-like tribe, merely 

 for the sake of pointing out two extraordinary resem- 

 blances ; since all the others, from the great difference of 

 the two groups, are too obscure to be dwelt upon. 



Families of Families of 



Fissirostres. Analogies. Dentirostres. 



CaprimulgiD;£. Seize their prey by the foot. Laniad.e. 



HiRUNDiNiDiE. Seize their prey by the bill. Merulid.e. 



MEROPiDiE. ? Sylvia DiE. 



Halcyonidje. Gape very wide, reaching beyond the eyes. Ampelidve. 



Troconid;e. Bill short ; wide, strong feet ; syndactyly Muscicapidte. 



The shrikes are nearly the only birds in the order of 

 perchers which have a distinct tooth towards the middle of 

 their bill, but this very character we find also in several 

 of the foreign goatsuckers. Both these families, according 



