41 



In judging of the generic characters of birds, I have 

 had frequent recourse to the forms of the brain, but 

 I have not stated the result of these researches, for two 

 reasons, firstly — from the imperfect views people in 

 general have hitherto 'taken of the physiology and 

 structure of the brain, as well as from the present state 

 of knowledge on this subject, I am convinced their dis- 

 tinctions would be rejected ; and secondly — I intend 

 in future to publish a work on the subject of Compa- 

 rative Phrenology, for which I have already prepared 

 some drawings, and am collecting other materials. 



Those who in the mean time may wish to obtain 

 what little information is already in print on the sub- 

 ject of the comparative anatomy of the brain, may 

 pursue it in the works ol Di. Gall and Spurzheim, 

 so well known throughout Europe as the anatomists 

 of the brain. 



This is certainly the most interesting branch of na- 

 tural history, since the diiferent parts of the brain are 

 the material conditions of the various instincts of 

 animals, and the relative bigness of these difierent 

 parts demonstrates the peculiar character of the ani- 

 mal. It was the pursuit of these interesting facts, 

 that first induced me to study OrnithoU)gy, and by 

 numerous dissections I have corroborated the peculiar 

 views of Dr. Spurzheim with respect to the causes of 

 instinct. Birds afibrd very striking examples of the 

 truth of the new doctrine, respecting the functions of 

 the brain. Dismissing for the present the general con- 

 sideration of this subject, I shall content myself with 

 adverting to a propensity in birds, over which some 

 obscurity hangs; as it may lead other naturalists to 

 examine the brain of difierent species which have it; 

 I allude to the instinct to rise or ascend very high in 

 the air, either on the wing or eminences, which many 

 birds have and seern to enjoy, independent of any par- 

 ticular utility. Most birds have it in some degree, 

 though some much more than others. The Skylark 

 E 2 



