ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIBDS. 
14 
discovery of ChmtoUemma among the unexamined birds 
of our friend Mr. Burchell, has quite satisfied us that this 
is not one of the prominent types of the Laniarus, but 
only an aberrant species of Falcunculus ; we therefore 
cancel the name of Cyctaris, and propose for this bird 
the name of Falcunculus Guianensis. This is only one 
of the many instances wherein aberrant species have been 
mistaken for generic types. To these mistakes we are 
all liable, — for they can only be detected in a very ad- 
vanced state of ornithological investigation, and we trust 
that the unscrupulous correction of our own errors, in 
this respect, will be a sufficient proof that, in cancelling 
very many of the supposed genera of others, we are ac- 
tuated but by one motive, — that of the most perfect im- 
partiality. It would be strange indeed, if any one, not 
possessed of divination, could determine the rank of a 
type before he has analysed the group of which it seems 
to form a part. 
( 1 5.) Having now sketched out the natural series in 
which the different divisions of shrikes appear to follow 
eadi other, let us pause to consider their analogies. On 
acutely surveying these groups, we find that nature still 
preserves, even under the form of the shrikes, a concealed 
resemblance to the primary orders of birds and the tribes 
of the perchers, as exhibited in the following table : 
Tribes of 
Perchers, 
Dentirostiiks. 
CONIttOSTEBB. 
SCANBOKEt*. 
Tenuiuostres. 
Fissirostres. 
Sub-PamiUcs oj 
Analo^ie^. Shrikes. 
(■ Bill short, toothed; seize their prey 7 
i by the foot. j 
CBill lengthenetl, compressed; feetj 
I strong ; robust. 3 
Feet very short, hind toe lengthened. Oicrurin^. 
f Bill weak, mouth smooth, feed only 7 Ceblepyrin* 
( on soft substances. J ' * 
Bill broad ; feed upon the wing. Tyrannin®. 
Every one must have perceived the resemblance, both in 
form and habits, between the true slirikes and the falcons, 
and that Lanius, which is the first division or genus, is 
typical of the whole family. The skulking, thievish 
propensities of the bush-shrikes (Thamrwphilina) and 
the jays (which belong to the Conirostres), in plundering 
