Irritability, used in the sense of vivacity and activity, is considered to be the most distinguishing character, and judged by this 
test, the Passerine birds naturally assume the first rank. In conjunction with the above, the nature of the upper wing coverts and 
the carotides communes, are deemed of great importance in ascertaining the relative affinity of birds, and aiding towards the formation 
of a connected system, as far as it may be possible with so many links in the chain wanting. 
Birds are included in the following arrangements : All those which have the large upper wing coverts on the first row of the 
cubitus so short as not to reach beyond the middle of the cubital quills, are possessed of only one carotis communis, the sinistra. 
Those, on the contrary, which have the same coverts, forming several rows, and extending beyond the middle of tiie cubital quills, have 
two carotides communes, one dextra and one sinistra. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as Cypselus, Trochilus, Merops, 
Psittacus, Rhea, Plioemcopferus, Podiceps and Pelecanus ; of which genera, although the wing coverts are long, the various species have 
only one carotis communis. 
Beginning with the highest or lowest forms is a mere matter of preference, and does not in any way interfere with the arrangement. 
'•'The eagle, then, in these pages is dethroned; the nightingale reigns in his stead. In that moral crescendo where the bird 
continuously advances in self-culture, the apex and the supreme point are naturally discovered, not in brutal strength so easily overpassed 
by man, but in a puissance of art, of soul, and of aspiration, which man has not attained, and which beyond this world, transports him 
in a moment to the further spheres.” 
I commence the recapitulation of the birds necessary to be considered in this work with the 
P ASSEEES.-OSCINES. 
FAMILY I. — TURDIDiE. 
SUB-FAMILY TURDIXLE. 
GENUS TUEDUS. 
Turdus. Linn. Syst. Nat. (1735.) 
1. TURDUS AUDUBONI.M. PALLASII. 
Turdus Audubonr Baird. Rev. Am. Birds, p. 16. 
Meeula Silens. Swain. Philos. Mag. Vol. I. (1827). p. 369. 
Having carefully examined the type, No. 10,886, kindly sent to me by Prof. Baird, I am unable to distinguish any characters 
sufficient to cause its separation from T. Pallasii. The back is slightly more inclined to an olivaceous hue and paler than in most 
specimens of T. P alias'll : the rump also paler. The wing is about half an iuch, and the tail a quarter of an inch longer than the 
ordinary lengths of the common species, but as Prof. Baird chose the largest of his specimens for his type, as stated in his Review, it 
may, with perfect propriety, be deemed an extreme size, and not to be taken as a specific character. The lengths of the bill, tarsi, and 
toes, agree with those of T. Pallasii. 
2. TURDUS CONFINUS.=T. MIGRATORIUS. 
The typical example of this bird having also beeu placed in my hands for examination, it appears to be a Turdus Migratorius, 
in worn and faded plumage ; the latter circumstance not infrequently occurring with birds which exist exposed to the rays of a tropical 
sun in sandy districts ; although this peculiarity in plumage is not always confined to such localities, for during the period in which this 
type was in my hands, I had the opportunity of comparing it with a robin in faded plumage, shot upon the Hudson river, and received 
by Mr. J. G. Bell, which resembled Prof. Baird’s specimen so closely as to be distinguished from it only with difficulty. The type was 
obtained at Todos Santos, Cape St. Lucas. 
G-ENUS HARPORHYNCHTTS. 
JlarporhyncJms. Cabanis. Wiegm. Arehiv. (1848). Vol. I. p. 98. 
3. HARPORHYNOHUS CINEREUS. Vol. I. Plate I. 
FAMILY II.— PAMIDJE. 
SUB-FAMILY PARHSLE. 
GENUS PAEUS. 
Parus. Linn. Syst. Nat. (1735.) 
4. PARUS OCCIDENTALISM. ATRICAPILLUS. 
PARUS OCCIDENT ALIS. Baird. Birds of N. Am. p. 391. 
I am unable to distinguish any characters possessed by this Tit, which should entitle it to be separated from the P. Atricapillus. 
The very slight difference in the hue of the plumage from that of the common species, as pointed out by its describer, is not sufficient 
to warrant the establishment of a specific rank. 
