﻿DENTIROSTRES AND FISSIROSTRES. 357 



to the observations of White, use the foot to secure 

 their prey ; while swallows and thrushes seize theirs 

 alone by the bill. The little teeth along the margin of 

 the trogon's bill, almost disappear in the Asiatic species, 

 while the todies (Furylaimus corydon Tern.) show a ten- 

 dency to assume this character. The analogies of the 

 remaining families of the Fissirostres can only be traced 

 through their other representatives. That between the 

 Halcyonidce and the Ampelidce, for instance, is only 

 seen by looking to the wading order, rather than to the 

 chatterers ; since we then get an explanation why the 

 bill of a kingfisher so perfectly resembles that of a 

 heron, — why both live near water, and catch fish, 

 nearly in the same manner. But having now traversed 

 the circle of perchers, the analogies have become in- 

 sensibly reversed ; or rather, have so imperceptibly 

 changed their character, that they are, as it were, 

 doubled. Whether we are thus to account for no im- 

 mediate and apparent analogy existing between the 

 Meropidce and the Sylviadce, and between the Halcy- 

 onidce and the Ampelidce, we know not : certain it is 

 that their relations appear to be very obscure. But 

 may not this arise from the Fissirostres possessing a 

 greater tendency to unite themselves with the Scansores, 

 and thus to complete their own circle, than to pass into 

 the Dentirostres, and thereby enter another circle ? 

 This property of aberrant groups we have before re- 

 marked upon. Let us see, therefore, whether there is 

 a stronger resemblance between the Fissirostres and the 

 Scansores, than between the Fissirostres and the Den- 

 tirostres. If this proves to be the case, we shall have 

 an important confirmation of the above opinion. 



Families of Families of 



Fissirostres. Analogies. Scansores. 



("Bill very short, hooked, sometimes} 



Caprimulgid^:. < toothed ; gonys ascending. Take their >■ Psittacid/E. 



C food by the foot. 3 



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MEROFIDiE. !]^r ay C ° ra -}C ER T„U D *, 



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