396 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



1837-52. Macgii>livray, W. — Continued. 



siderations of the theory of descent must be regarded as rather fortuitous than essential. At 

 the time he wrote, Evolution had no place in taxonomy ; to-day, we utterly discard any scheme 

 of classification, however convenient or however specious, that does not proceed upon the 

 understanding that all birds are descended from a common ancestor, and consequently bear 

 to each other simply the relation of parent and offspring ; that classiiication is entirely a 

 matter of our skiU or luck in tracing pedigree to construct a genealogical table ; and that 

 there is no such entity in nature as a genus or a species was supposed to be when MacgUli- 

 vray studied birds. 



A marked feature of this work is the numerous chapters on "Practical Ornithology", that 

 is to say, on field work in this branch of science. These are given in the form of personal 

 narrative, with gossipy incident and imaginary dialogue, — the hint of which seems to have 

 been taken from the similar sketches of scenery and character which Audubon introduced in 

 his "Ornithological Biography". They reflect many reminiscences of the author's intimate 

 personal relations with the " Amei'ican backwoodsman". These two seem to have been very 

 congenial spirits ; and what jolly times they must have had o' nights, after their tramps, in 

 some snuggery with a bottle between them ! . . . 



"William MacgiUivray has one very high claim upon the regard of American ornithologists : 

 he was the source of Audubon's inspiration in all that pertains to the technic of the latter'8 

 great work. " ISTot to put too fine a point upon it," he furnished nearly all the "ornithology" 

 of Audubon's work, as distinguished from the portrai ts that the Frenchman drew either with 

 pen or with pencil. Audubon was primarily, and chiefly, an animal painter, and he finally 

 acquired no little familiarity with bird-life ; but he began to paint without the slightest idea 

 of ornithology, and never attained even mediocrity as ji strict scientist. He loved warmth, 

 color, action ; he liked to exaggerate and " embroider", and make his pages glow like a hum- 

 ming-bird's throat, or like one of his own marvellous pictures ; he had no genius for accuracy, 

 no taste for dull, dry detail, no care for a specimen after he bad drawn it. MacgiUivray sup- 

 plied what was necessary to make his work a contribution to science as well as to art. In 

 fact he wrote a good deal of Audubon's book. After Audubon had told us how his heart beat 

 when the woods echoed to the report of his gun, and he picked up a lovely warbler which he 

 had loug sought for, but until then in vain — conveying an impression of years of solicitude 

 about something that he probably never thought of till he stumbled on it accidentally — after 

 all this, and the execution of a beautiful plate, MacgiUivray would furnish his friend a tech- 

 nical name and description. The anatomical matter of Audubon's work is probably all Mac- 

 giUivray's ; and "the final classification and nomenclature are from the same source. It wiU 

 be remembered that the names and whole arrangement of the birds in Audubon's Orn. Biogr., 

 1831-39, were changed in the Synopsis, 1839, and in the 8vo ed., 1840-44. This was entirely due 

 to Macgillivray's hand in the matter. MacgiUivray is accredited with several of the biogra- 

 phies in Audubon's volume ; but the fuU extent of his joint-authorship is not generally known. 

 There seems to have been some mutually satisfactory understanding between the two, which 

 has never been made public. I aUow these facts to go on record, not in the least to the dis- 

 m paragement of a brilliant and famous author, but in simple justice to a stronger, sounder, 

 and no less agTeeable ornithologist. 



1837. Moore, E. On the BircLs of Devonshire. < Charlesw. Maq. Nat. Hist., i, 1837, 

 pp. 113-115. 



The present article includes only the Raptoreg, an annotated list of which is given. It is 

 succeeded by four articles of similar character, each with modified caption : see next four 

 titles. 



1837. Moore, E. On the Passerine Birds of Devonshire. < Charlesw. Mag. Xat. Hist., 

 i, 1837, pp. 176-180. 



1837. Moore, E. Climbing and Gallinaceous Birds of Devonshire. < Charlesw. Mag. 

 Nat. Hist.,i, 1837, pp. 227-229. 



1837. Moore, E. On the Wading Birds of Devonshire. < Charlesio. Mag. Nat. Hist., 

 i,1837-, pp. 319-323. 



1837. Moore, E. On the Web-footed Birds of Devonshire. < Charlesw. Mag. Nat. 

 Hist.,i, 1337, pp. 360-366. 

 This article ends the series. 



1837. Salmon, J. D. New Tringa, shot near Yarmouth. < Charlesw. Mag. Nat. Hist., 

 i, 1837, p. 54. 



T. platyrhyncha, now only as to the locality. The article includes some other rarities of 

 the same region. 



