348 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUILICATIONS. 



the desired end of promotingf useful knowledge, but then the knowledge 

 imparted is too much pilfered from other authors. Thus free scope is 

 allowed to this "Prince of Compilers," as the Spectator inaily styles 

 him, to draw upon sterling authors whose works are the product of years* 

 patient observation and investigation in the field of Mature — such are the 

 delightful volumes of Wilson, Audubon and Mudie, from the first of 

 whom our author — compiler we meant — has made no scruple to take 

 copious draughts, especially in the *' Architecture of Birds," and which 

 he has had the effrontery to cram in amongst his "conglomerates of 

 dust and slime." We will now proceed to investigate the contents of 

 this volume. 



The first chapter is devoted to the "Vision of Birds." Rather than 

 take a masterly and original view of this subject, as Mudie would have 

 done, the Professor has chosen to string together a series of facts and 

 anecdotes related by othei- authors, with here and there a remark which 

 he would fain have us believe to be his own ; they are, however, almost 

 entirely culled from higher authorities. Yet at p. 8 we are actually start- 

 led by a " fact observed by J. R;" but, alas ! it is buried in an over- 

 whelming mass of quotations. 



Chap. II. is on the " Hearing [of Birds." We must not omit to 

 remark the lamentable want of Phrenology in this division of his subject. 

 For instance, at p. 55 he says ; " The anatomical structure and conform- 

 ation which constitutes what is called a musical ear, remains hitherto 

 unknown." We could hardly have supposed it possible that any person 

 who has read — as we believe the Professor has — Dr. Gall's excellent work 

 " Sur les Fonctions du Cerveau," would still retain the absurd opinion 

 that the love of music depends on the anatomical structure of the ear. 

 It of course depends on the comparative size of the innate organ of tune 

 (see Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. VII, p. 567). The remaining chapters treat of 

 the other faculties, and in these the compiler, as usual, puts into requi- 

 sition the theories and opinions of every Naturalist from the time of Aris- 

 totle to the present day, without coming to any decided conclusion of his 

 own. This loose and unscientific method of proceeding may diflfuse 

 entertaining knowledge, but it certainly does not advance science. The 

 " Natural History of Birds" of Mr. Mudie — in common with the other 

 works of this delightful author — answers both these ends. 



This, then, is the volume which — with the other two — we are told, 

 '* completes the subject of Ornithology." Completes it, forsooth ! and 

 in what manner ? By stringing together a series of facts, anecdotes, theo- 

 ries, opinions and remarks of other authors who are thus robbed of their 

 lawful property, merely to please the multitude. We are certain that 

 were we informed of any one department of Ornithology on which this 

 " literary Lestris" were going to write, we could furnish a review of it 

 before we had seen it. 



This person in all his compilations, seems to wish to show that he is a 

 " well read man," by conspicuously placing the titles of books quoted 

 in the margin, which is literary filled with them. We cannot help won- 

 dering why the Professor should not sometimes treat us with remarks of 

 his own, as those which he has from time to time given to the world, are 

 by no means devoid of interest ; such as those in his " Architecture of 

 Birds :" but as if not satisfied with having lodged them there, he must 

 needs fall back into his old habits, and transfer them into his edition of 

 that delightful work " Montague's Ornithological Dictionary.'' — We 

 must now finish our review of this volume, and leave the Professor to do 

 as he, in his profound wisdom, may think fit in his next " conglomerate.' 



