412 Mr. A. ft. Wallace on the Arrangement of the 
the Tanagers, have affinities both with the Mniotiltidse, Frin¬ 
gillidse, and Dicseidae, while they have no close resemblance 
to any family of either of the other series. The Fringillidse 
and the Icteridse naturally follow, and complete the series. 
The latter seem to he an extreme development of the Ameri¬ 
can Fringilline or Tanagrine stock, and to have no imme¬ 
diate affinity to the Old-World Starlings, which they represent 
in a parallel group, just as the Mniotiltidse represent the 
Warblers. 
The third set of families we are able to separate consists of 
four only, characterized by possessing ten primaries, as do the 
typical Passeres, but with the first rudimentary and function¬ 
less. Some species belonging to other series closely resemble 
these; but the character never prevails throughout an entire 
family as it does here. This series is not very well marked; 
but as it best follows Series B, it is advisable to keep the 
families which constitute it apart. These are all Old-World 
groups, not possessing a single representative in the Neotro¬ 
pical, and but a solitary species in the Nearctic region. 
Series C. Sturnoid Passeres. 
Wing with 10 primaries, the first of which is rudimentary. 
1. Ploceidse. 3. Artamidse. 
2. Sturnidse. 4. Alaudidse. 
The Alaudidse form a transition from the preceding series, 
where they w r ould perhaps be as well placed, the first primary 
being in some genera rudimentary and of varying size, in 
others quite absent; and this agrees with their affinity to 
some forms of Fringillidse (the Buntings), which has been 
pointed out by many ornithologists. The Ploceidse form a 
parallel development with the Fringillidse, as do the Sturnidse 
with the Icteridse. The Artamidse have been the subject of 
much discussion. They have been placed with the Swallows, 
the Shrikes, the Drongos, or the Orioles; but no one has ob¬ 
served their resemblance to the Starlings. Yet, as regards 
general form, the colour and character of the plumage, and 
the peculiar bill and nostril, they do certainly resemble some 
Starlings, especially the anomalous Scissirostrum. The form 
