Nomenclature of Ornithology. 187 



described characters of the five primary departments. He again 

 descends in order to the descriptions of the five subdivisions or 

 generick groups contained in the selected primary department ; 

 and lastly, he makes his reference to the twenty specifick descrip- 

 tions. In all, at the very extreme, he has thirty points of com- 

 parison to which he refers the bird before him, instead of two 

 hundred and forty-seven, through which he would be obliged to 

 wade according to the ancient system. I appeal to the candour 

 of those who are the most strongly opposed to my notions on this 

 subject, to decide which of these two is the simplest or most ex- 

 peditious mode of proceeding. 



But in the former instance the student has arrived at a knowledge 

 of the name of his bird alone : and in this information his labour 

 ends. There is however a more important species of knowledge to 

 which he has attained no clue. The groups of Falconidce, — such 

 I hope I may be allowed to call them, — though united iu affinity 

 by their leading characters, are yet distinguished from each other 

 by many essential differences in manners and organization. Their 

 structure is more or less powerful, their habits more or less 

 destructive : they evince a greater or less docility in submitting 

 themselves to the commands of man, or, in the language of Fal- 

 conry, they are more or less " noble." Some pursue a superiour 

 prey, some a prey of the meanest description ; some hawk on 

 land, and some on the waters : some are bold, though of the 

 smallest size; some, though of considerable dimensions, are sloth- 

 ful and cowardly. A number approach more or less closely to 

 the typical character of the family, or again deviate more or less 

 remotely from that type, and approach the Vulturidw on the one 

 hand, or the Strigidce on the other. The modern plan of arrang- 

 ing this comprehensive group has a reference to all these import- 

 ant characteristicks ; and the student who determines the name of 

 his bird by this mode of nomenclature, determines at the same 

 time its station in nature. He ascertains the purposes for which it 

 is called into existence, and the part which it sustains in the gene- 

 ral economy of the creation. I here again appeal to the candour 

 of my warmest opponents on such points, whether such a mode of 

 proceeding, while it is at once more simple and expeditious than 



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