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traits of our native Song-birds, evidently traced by the hand of a man of genius 

 and an enthusiast, — an original and an indefatigable observer ; and truly refresh- 

 ing to the spirit of the thorough-bred ornithologist, whom the stale and vapid per- 

 formances of the hireling compiler have too frequently served only to nauseate 

 and disgust. Deeply do we marvel how an individual, so little advanced in years, 

 as Mr. Neville Wood really is, could have produced a work of which any natural- 

 ist, however aged or experienced, might well be proud ; and which all, who aspire 

 to the character of a British ornithologist, must possess ; and, once possessing, will 

 frequently peruse. 



The Text Book is, on the whole, an odd and rambling work : yet, like many 

 very odd people and odd things, there is, about it, a spirit of indescribable fascina- 

 tion and allurement. It consists, principally of short Reviews, with occasional ex- 

 tracts from them, of all the more important Ornithological works which have ap- 

 peared, both in Britain and upon the continent, from the time of the celebrated 

 Willughby, of Middleton, to the present day ; and will form an useful guide to 

 the ornithological student in his selection of works of reference and illustration. 

 Mr. Wood's criticisms on the writings and researches of other men, are generally 

 correct, candid, and impartial. Sometimes, however, as in the cases of Professor 

 Rennie and Mrs. Perrott, they are surely uttered in a tone of unmerited and un- 

 becoming asperity : nor, in our opinion, has full justice been done to the exalted 

 genius and labours of our illustrious Ray. On the other hand, Mr. Wood is oc- 

 casionally lavish of his praises, where, from the worthless and contemptible cha- 

 racter of the subject, eulogy is converted into the deepest satire. Unmerited 

 praise, like a strong light thrown upon a crazy edifice, serves only to render more 

 conspicuous the defects of that object which it seeks to illustrate. After all that 

 Mr. Neville" Wood has said, or can say, upon the subject, the trumpery work of 

 Lewin on British birds will be trumpery still. 



The Second Part of the Text-book, entitled " Synopses of Systems," contains 

 elucidations of the Ornithological Systems of Willughby, Linneus, Brisson, La- 

 tham, Lacepede, Dumeril, Meyer, Illiger, Temminck, Cuvier, Blainville, Vieillot, 

 Vigors, Lattreille, Lesson, and Fleming, with the respective periods of their an- 

 nunciation or development. It would require more time and examination than we 

 can, at present, bestow upon the subject, to discuss their characteristic merits and 

 defects. To the ornithological student, this portion of Mr. Wood's work will 

 prove exceedingly acceptable and instructive. The remnant of the volume, under 

 the head of " Supplement" is occupied with " Hints for a new and complete work on 

 General Ornithology ; and, as the title-page expresses it, " discussions on various 

 topics of interest." 



We cannot terminate these imperfect notices without formally and earnestly 

 recommending an attentive perusal of the Text-book, and Song Birds, of Mr. 

 Neville Wood to our ornithological readers : and we must add that he, who can 



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