130 
ON THE CLASSIPICATION OP BIRDS. 
toes diminished, and the inner one becomes propor- 
tionably shortened. This we see in the jays (6), which 
seldom alight upon the 
ground, even in situa- 
tions like this*, where 
their wild and discor- 
dant cries echo through 
the coppices, and evince 
that such wooded re- 
treats are their proper 
haunts. Another cha- 
racter, indicative of 
walking habits, will be 
found in the claws ; 
those of the crow (^fig. 
68. c) are always less 
compressed and curved 
than in the jay (a), and 
other birds which live in trees. This structure is carried 
to its extreme development in the larks (at), and the 
' ' neighbouring genus An- 
thus, where the claws 
are unusually straight 
and slender, while the 
opposite extreme is seen 
in the genus Buphaga 
(6). We must, how- 
ever, observe that there 
are several excep- 
tions to this rule ; for not only the typical shrikes 
(Lanius) which never, or very rarely, alight upon the 
ground, have the lateral toes equal, but this equality is 
seen in several other groups which are arboreal ; but 
which, as standing at the head of their tribe, or genus, 
represent the crows ; and thus the character becomes 
also analogical. The swallows very rarely alight upon 
the ground, although their toes are equal ; yet, as they 
represent the Corvidw, by being pre-eminently typical 
• Tittenhanger Green, in the adjacent woods of lord Calledoii. 
