INSESSOKIAL OB PEECHING ORDER. 337 
at once from the gallinaceous, the wading, and the 
swimming orders. 
(27^.) The most absolute peculiarities of the order 
before us are those we have just stated ; hut there are 
some others to.'be mentioned of a secondary nature, inas- 
much as they are not without several exceptions. Thus 
a few of them, like the shrikes, possess a strong tooth 
in the upper mandible, similar to that of the hawks ; 
while many more, as in the finch family, have not the 
slightest vestige of this process. The most prevalent 
construction of the hill is, nevertheless, to have this 
member more or less notched, a structure which en- 
ables these birds to take a firm hold of their food, 
although without the power of tearing it in pieces by 
their bill. They are likewise the most highly organised 
in other respects, ivhether we view them as the most 
melodious songsters, the most expert architects, or the 
most resplendent in their colours, of the whole feathered 
creation. 
(273.) The leading divisions of this order are so 
obvious that every ornithologist, unprejudiced by the 
authority of artificial systems, cannot fail to perceive 
them. The Hmtirostres, Conirostres, Scansores, Te- 
nuiroxtres, and Fissiraatm, are so many prominent 
groups, which have long been known and recognised by 
all the moderns ; and they have accordingly been cited, 
with justice, to illustrate the circular disposition of the 
entire order.* So far, therefore, as regards the admis- 
sion of these groups, nothing more need he urged, since 
they are now universally adojited. This unanimity, 
however, amongst ornithologists merely extends to the 
typical forms: all agree, for instance, in classing the 
woodpeckers and parrots as climbing birds ; but, because 
the scansorial structure is exhibited under a different form 
in the Grimpereaux of M. Cuvier, or the tree-creepers, 
we find these birds occupying a station in the Rcgne 
Aninml with the Tcnuirostres. Even this latter tribe, 
by some authors, is made to embrace every bird sus. 
» Sec Linnccan Transac'ioiis, vol. xiv. p. 346. 
Z 
