go DICTIONARY OF BIRDS 



most of the smaller groups differences of far greater kind are overlooked, 

 so that the forms which present them are linked together in more or less 

 close union. Thus, regarding only external characters, great as is the 

 structural distinction between the Gannets, Cormorants, Frigate-birds and 

 Pelicans, it is not held to remove them from the limits of a single Family ; 

 and yet the Thrushes and the Chats, whose distinctions are barely sensible, 

 are placed in separate Families. Again, even in one and the same group, 

 the equalization of characters indicative of Families is wholly neglected 

 Thus among the Pigeons the genera Didus and Didunculus, which differ, 

 so far as we know it, in every external character of their structure, are 

 placed in one Family, and yet on very slight pretext the genus Goura, 

 which in all respects so intimately resembles ordinary Pigeons, is set apart 

 as the representative of a distinct Family. The only use of dwelling upon 

 these imperfections here is the hope that thereby students of Ornithology 

 may be induced to abandon the belief in the efhcacy of external characters 

 as a sole means of classification, and, seeing how unmanageable they become 

 unless checked by internal characters, be persuaded of the futility of any 

 attempt to form an arrangement without that solid foundation which can 

 only be obtained by a knowledge of anatomy. Where Sundevall failed 

 no one else is likely to succeed ; for he was a' man gifted with intelligence 

 of a rare order, a man of cultivation and learning, one who had devoted 

 his whole life to science, who had travelled much, studied much and 

 reflected much, a man whose acquaintance with the literature of his 

 subject probably exceeded that of any of his contemporaries, and a man 

 whose linguistic attainments rendered him the envy of his many friends. 

 Yet what should have been the crowning work of his long life is one that 

 all who respected him, and that comprehends all who knew him, must regret, 

 though apart from his systematic treatment his handiwork is admirable.^ 

 Of the very ojjposite kind was the work of the two men next to be 

 mentioned — Garrod and Forbes — both cut short in a career of promise ^ 



^ lu 1882 Dr. Reichenow prefixed to his VOgel der Zoologisclien Garten another 

 scheme of Classification, which, though out of order, may here be mentioned, from its 

 treatment being in several respects similar to Sundevall's. Its author gave (i. p. viii.) 

 the representation of a genealogical tree {Stammbaum) shewing the descent of existing 

 Birds from those which were furnished with teeth (of which more presently) by four 

 principal stems^l. " Kurzfliigler ", Brevipennes ; 2. speedily dividing into "Schwimm- 

 vdgel", Natatores and " Stelzvogel", Grallatores ; 3. "Girrvogel", Gyrantes ; and 

 4. "Fiinger", Co^jtaiores, "Paarzeber", Fibulatores and "Ba,umvbge\", Arbor icolw, 

 which succeed one another in the order named. These all form 7 Series (Reihe) and are 

 split into 17 Orders. The sense of proportion seems here more lamentably wanting 

 than in Sundevall's Tentamen. All the " Struthious " Birds form one Family, and the 

 Oscines contain 21 ! While Series 5, Gyrantes, consists only of the Columbse, Series 

 6, Captatores, includes Cryptnri, Rasores (all Gallinm and Opisthocomus), and Rap- 

 tatores — containing Vultioridw {Sarcorhampihinw, Vulturinie and Gypastinm), Fal- 

 conidm and Strigidie. This will shew that no account is taken of any structural 

 characters except those which are superficial ; but the author's tree of ornithic 

 genealogy may be regarded as an important feature, having been anticipated, so far as 

 I know, only by that of Prof. Hackel {Geyi. Morphol. ii. Taf. vii.) which went but a 

 short way. 



- Alfred Henry Garrod, Prosector to the Zoological Society of London, died of 

 consumption iu 1879, aged thirty-three. His successor in that office, William 

 Alexander Forbes, fell a victim to the deadly climate of the Niger in 1883, and in his 

 twenty-eighth year. 



