FLUVIC0LTN.E OR WATER-CHATS. 89 
it were, with those of the rasorial ; nor is this the 
only instance where such an approximation is dis - 
covered. Great bulk, feeble and imperfect feet, and 
a fondness for water, are the three great indications 
of such vertebrated animals as belong to the first of 
these types ; while strong and powerful feet, short 
but broad wings, and a harsh discordant voice, are 
chiefly to be found in those groups which represent 
the Rasores or fowls. Now each of these latter 
characters are possessed by the birds before us, to 
which they have superadded one, and but one, of the 
characters of the Natatores, namely, aquatic habits. 
Some highly interesting speculations arise out of 
this, too abstruse, however, for our present discus- 
sion. Certain, however, it is, that there is always 
one division of a large group like the present, which 
either directly or indirectly manifests an attachment 
to water ; and as this is not seen, so far as we yet 
know, in the Queruliruc, it would naturally be ex- 
pected in that aberrant division which stood on the 
opposite side of the circle. And accordingly we find 
it to be so. Querula has three of the natatorial cha- 
racters, namely, great size (it is the largest bird in 
the whole family), a very broad and strong bill, and 
yet remarkably small and weak feet ; but a fourth, 
the lore of 'neater, it seems not to have, so far as our 
imperfect knowledge of its manners extends. It 
must be remembered, also, that no animals which 
are merely analogical representations of a type, re- 
present all the characters of that type ; a moment’s 
reflection will show this to be a necessary law of 
