Mr, Swainson's Synopsis of the Birds of Mexico. 433 



waters at that point on the Apennines, where are deposited 

 the Buccincv, the Turbines, and Murices, of which analo- 

 gous genera are so abundant at Braraerton: or have as- 

 cended the scale, and carried its limits yet higher, — where, at 

 the height of twelve hundred toises, upon the Andes, M. Hum- 

 boldt discovered the fossil teeth of the mastodon, whose re- 

 mains are also found with the crag shells in our humble val- 

 ley of Norwich. 



It was the common error of the English geologists of the 

 last century, to deduce consequences from too limited pre- 

 mises. Thus our Whitehurst, Woodward, Whiston, Hutton, 

 and other intelligent observers, had each his favourite theory : 

 each saw in the phaenomena around him sufficient confirma- 

 tion of a preconceived hypothesis ; each reasoned and specu- 

 lated from the confined data which came under his own par- 

 ticular observation : and, as it happens in all those cases where 

 research is Umited to the evidence of peculiar systems, the 

 facts were not always recorded so impartially as the strictness 

 of geological inquiry demands. Thus, for a time, schools were 

 instituted, the disciples of which saw only through the eyes of 

 their respective masters, and rejected truths which harmo- 

 nized not with their views. It is obvious that such a process 

 tended rather to confuse, than to simplify and facilitate the 

 progress of this science. 



This disposition to theorize has happily decreased, as the 

 number of observers has augmented ; while all unite to collect 

 the data, to arrange the documents, and to combine those 

 proofs, whence hereafter will arise some incontrovertible and 

 universally acknowledged principle, by which to account for 

 phaenomena at present so inexplicable. 



LXXXV. A Synopsis of the Birds discovered in Mexico by 

 W. Bullock, F.L.8. and H.S., and Mr. M'illiam Bullock, 

 jun. By William Swainson, Esq. F.R.S. F.L.S. S,r. 



[Concluded from p. 369.] 



Fam. Sylviad-s;. 

 G. Teichas. Swains, in Zool. Journ. No. 10. 



37. Trichas personatus. Sylvia trichas, Wilson i. pi. 6. 1". 1 . 



Near Vera Cruz. 



G. Sylvicola. Swains, in Zool. Journ. No. 10. 



38. Si/lvicola pusilla. Wilson iv. pi. 28. f 1 . 



New Scries. Vol 1. No. 6. Ju?ie 1827. 3 K 'VJ. Sylvicola 



