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Show 1866.] PROF. W . LILLJEBORG O N T H E CLASS OF BIRDS. 13 the first row on the lower arm do not extend beyond the middle the cubital quills, and we meet with only one row of greater upper wing-coverts. As far as known, only one carotis communis, or truncus caroticus impar, which arises from the left arteria subclavia. Lively and active birds, with a fast and excellent flight, which move easily as well on the ground as on the branches of the trees. They generally jump on the ground, and seldom run. Some of them have a separate muscular apparatus for singing in the larynx inferior and a more or less exquisite song. Doubly monogamous. Altrices. Note.-This order embraces the typical forms of the group Insessores, and the birds that generally have the highest degree of development. In the following tables I have tried to use the most important well as the most positive and evident characters, but have in this, like others, met with much difficulty of finding such for the smaller groups, or families and genera, in the higher orders. A great many of the characters used are taken from Sundevall; and in the Passeres several from Cabanis. Their validity has first been fully tested. In consequence of the above-mentioned difficulty we find that the place in the system of a form in question cannot always be ascertained from similar tables, as a more minute description is often necessary. It must not, therefore, be expected that these tables should give an infallible ground for the determination of the forms belonging to the respective families and subfamilies, but only that they should denote some of the most important characters that form the basis for the groups, and give an easy review of these groups. Such a table shows us most plainly what characters are common and what are not. As a great many of the exotic generic forms are not well known to me, I do not insist that they can be all arranged under the 69 families and 144 subfamilies here characterized, and that the arrangement of other families or subfamilies is unnecessary; but I believe that a great part of the genera have been considered. I may mention that the difficulties arising in limiting the families Corvidce, Paridce, and Sylvidce among the Passeres have induced me to make these families more comprehensive than they have been. It seems that the Epimachini and Paradiseini should together form a separate family; but I have not been able to find any distinguishing characters, common to both, that make them distinct from the Corvidce. The family Corvidce corresponds with " cohors Cor-viformes" of Sundevall (Svenska Foglarna). The Troglodytini include forms of both Troylodytincs and Timalince, Cabanis, excepting some with emarginated bill. The other Liotrichidce, Cabanis, are given to the Sylvidce, partly to Lanini and partly to Sylvi?ii. It seems that the family Brachypodidce as arranged by Cabanis should at least partly be included in the last-mentioned subfamily (Sylvini), which, as it also embraces the Sylviadce, Cabanis, is very rich, and contains about 500 species or more. I even include the Vireonince, Cabanis, in the Sylvicolini. |