THE 



ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 



October, 1824. 



Art. XLII. An Inquiry into the natural Affinities of 

 the Laniadai, or Shrikes ; preceded by some Observations 

 on the present State of Ornithology in this Country. 

 By William Swainson, Esq. F.R.S. F. L. S> 

 M. TV. S. Sfc. 



The very able disquisition on the present state of Ornitho- 

 logical nomenclature, by Mr. Vigors, which appeared in the last 

 number of this Journal, supersedes the necessity of any further 

 observations on those particular points which that gentleman has so 

 well discussed ; yet the subject is so much connected with the best 

 interests of science, that I shall preface the present inquiry by 

 a few observations upon the relative state of Botanical and Orni- 

 thological knowledge in this country; which may, perhaps, tend 

 to illustrate the truth of the remarks above alluded to f and will 

 not be altogether foreign to the more immediate object of this 

 essay. 



It is not too much to say that, generally speaking, Zoological 

 Nomenclature has long usurped the station of Zoological Science. 

 So great, indeed, is the repugnance of British Ornithologists to have 

 their long-cherished notions about Genera in any way disturbed^ 

 that even the consciousness of our own national inferiority in this 

 study is insufficient to shake their prejudices. This " closing of 

 the mind" against new ideas and new knowledge, is, however, 

 more to be regretted than censured. As years pass over our 

 heads, we cling with delight to the impressions of youth ; and 



Vol. I. u 



