4 Mr. W. S. Macleay on the Comparative Anatomy 



that they may induce others, whose opportunities of anatomical 

 research may have been more extensive, to lay the results of 

 their respective investigations also before this Society. Nor, 

 little versed as I am in the study of vertebrated animals, would 

 I even now venture upon this subject, did not my residence in 

 an intertropical climate afford me facilities for examining par- 

 ticular genera, which the more experienced naturalist at home 

 must in vain hope for. And as to restricting our dissections in 

 the present state of natural history to a few European ani- 

 mals, it has been admirably observed, that one solitary species 

 neglected may serve to unfold an exception sufficient to destroy 

 the most plausible system. The following observations, there- 

 fore, crude as they are, may derive some portion of value from 

 being linked with the more accurate and scientific researches of 

 ornithologists on European birds ; my aim being to enter upon 

 the description and anatomy of such birds only as present struc- 

 tures peculiar to intertropical countries, comparing them with 

 other birds, which, from being inhabitants of Europe, are better 

 known. I shall not, however, attempt to describe new genera, 

 or name new species, as well on account of my deficiency in 

 the requisite ornithological knowledge, as on that of my inabi- 

 lity to refer to large museums and extensive libraries, both of 

 which are indispensably necessary for such undertakings. I 

 need scarcely say, that this department of ornithology is in 

 every respect capable of being infinitely better executed at 

 home. 



The general view taken of ornithology by Mr. Vigors in the 

 last volume of the Linnean Transactions may easily be conceived 

 to be too interesting to me as an individual not eventually to 

 have made it a most important question with me, as a naturalist, 

 to ascertain the accuracy of his various positions. As, however, 

 I cannot help fearing, that in the course of the investigation he 



has 



