TODDS. 
167 
us the indications of a circular group ; in which, 
although there is an apparent hiatus' *, the remain- 
der of the series is so perfect that no reasonable 
doubt can be entertained of its being natural. The 
species which will represent the grallatorial form 
may probably be found also in Brazil ; hut as the 
most aberrant types of this family, namely, Mona- 
chal and Plalystera , are of the'Old World, we should 
feel no surprise if this also turned out to be an inha- 
bitant of the same region. 
Considering the great variation of structure in so 
small a group as this, and which we merely term a 
sub-genus, it may be fairly asked, — even by those 
who take it for granted, or who cannot controvert 
the affinities here stated, — whether this group does 
not in reality hold a higher rank than what we have 
assigned to it ? or, in other words, is it not a genus 
rather than a sub-genus ? This question we have 
more than once investigated; and the result has 
been what we have stated. A desire of solving it 
as far as possible, led us, in fact, to undertake the 
analysis of the whole family. So far as we have 
yet laid the result of this labour before the reader, 
* Since writing the above, we liave procured a species of 
Todus very much resembling the T. plumbeus of Cayenne, but 
with the throat and breast marked with short black stripes 
like those on the larks, which family represents the Gralla- 
iorcs. But its chief peculiarity, and in which it differs from 
all other species, is in haring the outer and inner toes almost 
free, and of nearly equal length. It is more than probable, 
therefore, that this bird may really be the type we are now 
seeking. 
