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PART IL 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. Ornithologia, or the Birds ; a Poenif in Two Parts : ivith 

 an Introduction to their Natural History, and copious Notes. 

 By James Jennings, Author of Observations on the Dialects of 

 the West of England, London. 12mo, pp.^GS. Four Engrav- 

 ings on Wood. 



Birds having less brains, and consequently (if we believe 

 in theory), more stupidity, than quadrupeds, may, in some 

 points of view, appear of inferior interest ; but, as they form 

 a very important link in the chain of living existence, much 

 credit is due to those authors who, like Mr. Jennings, try to 

 diffuse a taste for the study of ornithology. By exhibiting the 

 science in varied points of view, it may be made delightful to 

 almost every class of persons, and particularly to young 

 people. In youth there is an enthusiastic and insatiable desire 

 for the study of every branch of natural history. Not a 

 flower blows in the meadows, nor an insect flutters by, with- 

 out attracting the attention of the young ; and, while we might; 

 suppose a boy to be foolishly engaged in idle pastime, gather- 

 ing daisies and butter-cups, or pursuing butterflies and bees^ 

 he is, in reality, employed in a more useful study than in 

 conning over his (to him unintelligible) class-books : he is 

 acquiring ideas of the works of nature, which no class-book 

 can give, which no master can instil, and which, in his maturcr 

 years, he can turn into admirable subjects for philosophical 

 reflection, as our author has done his boyish feats of birds- 

 nesting, (p. 10.) It is, indeed, much to be regretted that the 

 study of THINGS is so much thrown into the back-ground, by 

 the exclusive attention now bestowed upon words. These 

 ought to go hand in hand, for nothing can be more prepos- 

 terous than compelling a boy to store up a number of words 

 in his memory, which he does not and cannot understand; 

 while, on the other hand, he cannot be supposed to retain a 

 distinct or lasting recollection of things and facts, without 

 names and words, the only sort of pegs upon which they can 

 be permanently hung. Upon this principle, it is surprising at 



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