S30 Miller's Beauties of the Country. 



have a membranous crop as well as a cartilaginous one, and a 

 gizzard. Even these are shared by several other families of 

 birds; and the membranous crop of the Rasores and the 

 Columbidce differs in shape : in the former it is globular ; in 

 the latter, composed of two lobes. 



" Pavonidce and Tetraonidce are said by Selby to constitute 

 the typical forms of the Rasores ; Cracidce, Struthionidce, and 

 Columbidce, to be aberrant families of the same group. To 

 show in how unequal a degree they are entitled to the term 

 aberrant, I would observe, that out of seventeen distinct 

 points of agreement existing between the Pavonidce and the 

 Tetraonidce, the Cracidce agree with them in fourteen, the 

 Struthionidce in seven, and the Columbidce in only one. 



" To make the order Rasores consist of these five families 

 appears to me very incongruous, and to arise more from a 

 desire of adapting them to the exigences of a preconceived 

 theory, than from any natural affinities observable between 

 them. A circle, composed of families differing so greatly in 

 the amount of their aberrations, presents, according to my 

 ideas, chasms so extensive and frightful between the different 

 families of which it is composed, as not at all to accord with 

 the beautiful order of Nature." 



In closing our remarks upon the Birds of Western Africa, 

 we cannot help regretting that the term " natural," as applied . 

 to the quinary system, should not have been avoided in a work 

 intended in some measure to be elementary. We say this 

 without meaning to express any opinion as to the merits or 

 demerits of Mr. Swainson's views, but simply from a con- 

 viction that the first steps of the student in natural history 

 should, if possible, be divested of ideas which are not in 

 strict accordance with established facts. At any rate he should 

 be told, that the system called natural by some, is deemed un- 

 natural by others, and not receive an unjust bias in favour of 

 those principles of classification which may or may not be 

 found to have a real existence in nature. 



Art. II. Beauties of the Country; or, Descriptions of Rural 

 Customs, Objects, and Scenery. By Thomas Miller, Author of 

 " A Day in the Woods." London, Van Voorst. 



In opening this book, we do not find plates or descriptions 

 of either new animals or plants. The author dwells upon 

 the trees and flowers that beautify the earth, and the crea- 

 tures that sport upon its surface ; but he does not deem 



