570 CRITICAL NOTICEiJ OF NE\r PUBLICATIOIff. 



of the subject cannot be fully appreciated, or reverence for those won- 

 derful displays of creative wisdom which birds, more strikingly than any 

 other creatures, evince, be duly felt, without some knowledge of the 

 principles of mechanics, of geography, of the seasonal changes on the 

 earth and in the atmosphere, and of various other collateral subjects." 

 The treating of ornithology in a manner rather more scientific than is 

 usually done, are strong arguments in its favour ; and when the reader 

 is persuaded that there is not only additional knowledge to be sought, 

 but that the attainment of it is absolutely necessary to the full and 

 perfect enjoyment of that which is already known, the value ia materially 

 enhanced, because it is calculated to effect the greater good. 



In the general account of birds, as distinguished from the other 

 classes of verte])rated animals, their structure and the nature of their 

 more important functions, whether vital or active, are treated in a light 

 and sketchy, but sufficiently explanatory manner. The details, as the 

 author observes, '* are for an after time — for letting the mind easily down 

 on its pillow, after the contest is over, and the prize won. They are for 

 reference, and belong to the humbler department of (what is called) 

 memory ; but the book of instruction ought to be of a more spirit- 

 stirring character — it should enkindle the fire which it is to guide — arouse 

 the mind which it is to illuminate." 



Mr. Mudie's former work *' On the Feathered Race,*' we have noticed 

 in an antecedent number — we there luxuriated in the bold descriptions 

 of his native land — in the volume before us, however, we find that he 

 has diverged into a more difficult course, and has not invariably sufficient 

 data on which to ground his theories. Many of his descriptions are vivid 

 and picturesque ; and when he peoples the magnificent scenery with ita 

 appropriate inhabitants, he delights and improves his readers. The 

 f^eneral arrangement of the work, however, is too desultory. We 

 absolutely disagree with any attempt to make the classification depend 

 on mere extremities alone, and our opinion is more strongly confirmed 

 when we consider Mr. Mudie's arguments. He states the fact of the 

 blue tit, which he exemplifies by a very clever sketch, to be similar with 

 those of the rook ; yet we confess that we should be adverse to classing 

 our little fluttering, merry friends of the blue cap and yellow waistcoat, 

 the constant attendants on the kennel or kitchen door, in the same 

 genera with the aristocratical and clerical rook, the tenant of a lofty 

 avenue, or the secluded precincts of a college. 



Perhaps there are few more interesting descriptions than that of the 

 ** Air Birds," inserted under the head of *' General Analogies of Birds," 

 of which the following is a short extract : — 



" An air bird is one which uses the wing in immediately obtaining its food ; thus 

 an eagle which stoops to ground prey, a falcon which captures in the air but eats 

 on the ground, a gannet which plunges in the water, and a swift or other insect 

 feeder which feeds on the wing without stopping, are all equally air birds, arriving 

 at their f'>od by the action of the wings in that medium. So also a bird which 

 immediately finds its food with the wings closed, or only with a partial use of them, 

 snbordinate to that of the feet, as in the birds which chase their prey under water, 

 those that perch upon flexible stems and twigs, and a few others, is a ground bird. 

 No matter whether it walks the bare earth, the vegetable surface, the boles or 

 branches of trees, or perches, or climbs, or swims, or dives, if aerial motion does 

 not form part of the art of capture, it is not an air bird. Many ground birds 

 range far on the wing in search of places where they may feed or nestle ; but the 

 distinction between that and feeding on the wine, that is, arriving directly at the 

 prey from the air only, is obvious enough. If the bird moves anew from any 

 support but that of the air, that element has, as it were, rendered it up ; and be 

 the support rock, earth, plant, or water, there ia an unbroken connexion with the 

 ground." 



