MOSCICAPISLE. 
115 
however, between these two opposite analogies, we 
have invariably found that great strength of foot, 
and disconnection of the toes, is a much more pre- 
valent, and therefore a more certain indication of 
rasorial types, than the mere possession of a crest. 
This opinion is fully confirmed upon looking to the 
rasorial order itself, where we see that strength and 
perfection of foot is the universal character, while 
crests are not possessed by more than one-tenth of 
the whole. Or, if we reverse the comparison, and 
look to the Fissirostres and the Natatores, we 
observe that imperfection of foot is their predomi- 
nant characteristic. Megalophus , therefore, may be 
considered a true fissirostral type ; possessing, how- 
ever, in its remarkable crest, one of the characters 
of the genus into which it blends, at the opposite 
point of the circle, namely, Rhipidura. On the 
analogy of Monacha to the Tenuirostres there can 
be but little doubt ; both are the most aberrant in 
their own circles, and both are remarkable for their 
cylindrical bills and the advancement of the frontal 
feathers over the nostrils. The last analogy to be 
traced, is that between the fantailed flycatchers 
(Rhipidura) and the rasorial birds ( Rasores ). 
Adverting to what we have just, remarked on one 
of the primaiy characters of rasorial types, we find 
that this group of flycatchers have the longest and 
the strongest feet of any in the whole circle ; when 
to this we see added a remarkably broad fan-shaped 
tail, and several peculiarities of economy which 
will be subsequently detailed, the analogy becomes 
