The real affinities, therefore, of Chloropsis thus appear to lie with the Brachy-
podinw; and should these birds really possess a suctorial tongue, the analogy
is only rendered more beautiful. That this kind of tongue also should disappear
in the Paradiseadce, the most aberrant group of the Tenuirostres, is what we should
naturally expect, as in perfect unison with those principles of throughout every group in Ornithology. variation observed
We must now glance at these two important, but very unequal divisions, under
other points of view. First, their resemblance illustrates the following idea, expressed
by Mr. Mac Leay: “ We are struck with the analogy which opposite
points of the same circle bear to one another,—an analogy sometimes so strong,
that it has been mistaken for a relation of affinity; and indeed I am still unable to
state whether this be not the fact, and that the opposite points of the curve, if I
may so express myself, do not meet each other.”—“ It will be sufficient to state,
however, that as this peculiarity of natural distribution was detected by analysis,
and the use to be made of it was visible among the Petalocera ; so the discovery of
it served to prevent my falling into several mistakes, which I could not otherwise
have avoided, in deciding between relations of analogy and affinity as they exist
in the more general groups. ’ lor os Entom., p . 319. In this passage we trace
an indistinct perception of other properties of natural groups than those which this talented writer had discovered and explained.
Now this strong resemblance between opposite points of a circle is universal,
but of two very different natures. In the present case it is clearly analogical, for
not only are the two groups vastly unequal, but the Dentirostres (which includes
the Brachypodinw) is a typical tribe, while that of the Tenuirostres is the most
aberrant. But if we take the opposite points of the order Insessores, on the other
sides of the curve, we have the Fissirostres and the Scansores; and this resemblance
we consider as one of absolute affinity: both these tribes, in fact, are
aberrant, and of equal rank, and both, in our opinion, by being actually united,
divide the Insessores into three great primary circles.
Lastly, a few words may be added on the analogies of the Brachypodinw and
the Crateropodinw, which, as we have already shewn, appear to be twofold.
Viewing the aberrant groups of the Merulidw and of the Tenuirostres, with refertehnicse
m toa nthneer aberrant tribes of the Insessores, we find they represent each other in
MERULID®. TENUIROSTRES. INSESSORES.
Brachypodinte...............M e l iph a g id ® ..................SCANSORES.
Oriolirue..........• . . . . P aradjsead® .................TENUIROSTRES.
Craleropodime............ P rom e ro pid® .................FISSIROSTRES.
The largest birds in creation, as the Ostrich and the Cassowary, belong to the
Rasores, which order, among the perching tribes, is represented by the Scansores : yet, if the situation of the Struthionidw, as it has been stated, is aberrant in its
own order, it will then be that particular family which is analogous to the Fissirostres*.
Hence we may account for the Orateropodince and the Promeropidw being the largest birds of their respective groups, since both in like manner
represent the Fissirostres, Now this is almost placed beyond doubt; for the
Promeropidw pass into the Fissirostres; while the Meliphagidw, being at the
opposite curve of the Tenuirostral circle, should consequently represent the
Scansores. This they accordingly do, by the great length of their hind toe, and
by actually passing into that tribe. Even this, however, will not destroy the
obvious analogy which the Crateropodinw also bear to the Rasores, and consequently
to the Scansores: but this double resemblance will rather convince us
that the doctrine of analogy, as yet, has been most imperfectly developed.
* The Hombills among the Conirostres, the Toucans in the tribe of Scansores, and the Saxicolina or Stone-chats
in the family of Sylviadas, comprehend in like manner the largest birds in their respective circles: and all these groups
are analogous to the Fissirostres. This very remarkable property in natural arrangement is not, however, universal.
The greatest birds in the tribe of Dentirostres are found among the Ampelidee, which family represents the Tenuirostres.
So also in the family of Laniadce, where Ceblepyrints, having the same relation, exceed in size all other
Shrikes.—Sw.