114 On the Ornithology of Wilts. 
a certain number, some more, some less, the members of each genus 
having still farther points of resemblance between them, than with 
those of other genera, though of the same family. Thus, to take 
for example, the warblers, ‘ sylviade ’: in this family there is the 
genus ‘curruca,’ containing the whitethroats, the genus ‘ regulus,’ 
containing the golden-crested wrens, the genus ‘saxicola,’ containing 
the chats. Thus again of the family of grous, there is the genus 
‘tetrao,’ containing the real grous, the genus ‘lagopus,’ containing 
the ptarmigans, the genus ‘perdix,’ containing the partridges. 
And so again in like manner, to come to the last subdivision, 
which concludes the arrangement of birds according to scientific 
classification; every genus contains certain spxciEs, differing 
from one another in some respects, the points of difference being 
sometimes marked and clear, at others times slight, and hardily 
perceptible. Thus, as the family of grous contains among others 
the genus partridge, so the genus partridge in its turn comprises 
these several species, the common partridge, the red-legged par- 
tridge, and the Barbary partridge. Again, as the family of 
warblers contains among others the genus chat, so the genus chat 
contains the whinchat, the stonechat, and the wheatear. 
It will be needless to pursue this explanation any farther, 
though it may be useful to subjoin the accompanying table,* recapi- 
tulating the above method of classification, and enumerating the 
members of the three large subdivisions, some individuals of 
almost all of which are very generally known. 
Such, then, is a general outline of modern classification as com- 
monly adopted in this country. I am quite aware that the above 
description of it is far from perfect, and some of the subdivisions 
may to the experienced seem defective: to enter into farther detail 
would have occupied too much time, and have produced obscurity 
and confusion: and, perhaps, for practical purposes, what I have 
said will be amply sufficient. Volumes and treatises without num- 
ber have been written on the subject, and our best Ornithologists 
have employed a vast deal of time and learning to bring it to per- 
fection: the above is but a short epitome of the result of their 
