PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. XIX 



Naturalists^ I hope, will approve ofthe numerous subgenera 

 I have deemed it necessary to establish among the Birds of 

 Prey, PasserinsB, and Shore-Bird^; they appear to me to have 

 completely elucidated genera hitherto involved in much con- 

 fusion. I have also marked, as exactly as I could;, the corres- 

 pondence of these subdivisions with the genera of MM. de La- 

 cepede, Meyer, Wolf, Temminck, Savigny, and have refer- 

 red to each of them all the species of which I could obtain a 

 very positive knowledge. This laborious work will prove of 

 value to those who may hereafter attempt a true history of 

 Birds. The splendid works on Ornithology published within 

 a few years, and those chiefly of M. Le Vaillant, which ar'e 

 filled with so many interesting observations, together with M. 

 Vieillot's, have been of much assistance to me in designating 

 with precision the species they represent. 



The general division of this class remains as I published it 

 in 1798 in my "Tableau Elementaire(l).'' 



The general division of Reptiles, by my friend M. Brong- 

 niart, I have thought proper to preserve, but I have prose- 

 cuted very extensive and laborious anatomical investigations 

 to obtain my ulterior subdivisions. M. Oppel, as I have al- 

 ready stated, has partly taken advantage of these preparatory 

 labours, and whenever my genera finally agreed wdth his, I 

 have noticed the fact. The work of Daudin, indifferent as it 

 is, has been useful to me for indications of details, but the par- 

 ticular divisions I have made in the genera Monitor and 

 Gecko, are the product of my own observations on a great 

 number of Reptiles recently brought to the Museum by Messrs 

 Peron and GeofFroy. 



My labours with regard to the Fishes Vv'ill probably be found 

 to exceed those I have bestowed on the other vertebrated 



dependently of this, my first volume was printed in the beginning of 1816. Four 

 volumes are not printed as quickly as a pamphlet of a few pages. I say no more. 

 (Note to Ed. 1829.) 



(1)1 only mention this, because an amiable naturalist, M. Vieillot, in a recent work 

 has attributed to liimself the union of the Picx with the Passeres. T liad published 

 It in 1798, with my otlier arrangements, so as to render them public in the Museum 

 since 1811 and 1812- 



