On the Ornithology of Wilts. 105 
On the Ornitholagy of Wilts. 
No. 2. ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 
Having in a former paper briefly introduced the subject of the 
Ornithology of Wilts, I propose in a series of papers, to lay before 
the readers of this Magazine, a succinct account of the various 
species of birds which occur amongst us: but before I proceed to do 
so, it will be necessary, for the better understanding of those who 
have devoted little attention to the subject, and also for the assist- 
ance of those who are beginning to investigate it, and would know 
something more of the habits of the feathered race around them, to 
devote a few papers to the general subject of the classification, the 
structure, and the faculties of birds, without which previous know- 
ledge I fear it would be impossible to convey to any one more than 
a confused idea of the admirable, and indeed perfect organization, 
of this most interesting class of creatures. With this view, and to 
start from the very beginning, or, as in speaking of birds I may 
say, “ab ovo,” I devote this paper to the somewhat dry but impor- 
tant subject of classification, giving a general outline of the rules 
by which birds are classed, and the divisions and subdivisions now 
usually accepted. 
The student in Ornithology desirous to attain to a comprehensive 
knowledge of birds, must not expect to gain even a superficial 
acquaintance with them, or to grasp in his mind any definite and 
precise idea of the positions they severally occupy, without a certain 
amount of labour. The school boy in his research after knowledge 
must toil through many a weary and irksome task; the linguist in 
acquiring a new language, must pause over dry rules of grammar; 
the eminent statesman, the victorious general, the brilliant orator, 
gained not their proud positions, without industry and diligence: 
Pp 
