192 Rhoads, Ornithological Publications of C. S. Rafinesque. [April 



in this line which he was led to make through his too ready credulity 

 and mad quest after new species and genera. 



They give also an insight into his higher self as an enthusiastic 

 admirer and real lover of nature, a phase rarely exhibited in his 

 published writings of later date. Of what extreme interest would 

 be a discovery of his manuscript on the Ornithology of the United 

 States to which he alludes in his remarkable review of Alexander 

 Wilson's work. 



"Kentucky Gazette. 

 Lexington, K. Thursday Morning February 14, 1822. 

 Page 3, Col. 4 



The Cosmonist — No. III. 



On the Birds of Kentucky and a new Swallow. 



Among all the tribes enlivening animated Nature, there are few 

 if any, that are so interesting as the Birds; those aerial beings who 

 enjoy the glorious privilege of roaming th[r]ough the atmosphere, 

 and soaring to the clouds, whence they often may look down with 

 pity upon us confined as we are to creep on the ground. Their 

 lively plumage, and elegant forms charm the eyes, while their 

 melodious voices and varied songs delight the ears. 



Ornithology or the branch of Cosmony, which leads us to become 

 thoroughly acquainted with their history and manners, has there- 

 fore been cultivated sooner and better than many other branches 

 of natural science. * * * * "pj^g splendid works and colored figures 

 of Catesby, Edwards, Buff on, Vieillot, and Wilson, have contributed 

 to make known, the greatest number of the beautiful Birds which 

 live in North America. 



The magnificent work of Wilson, published in our country, is 

 well known; and although it has remained imperfect by the un- 

 timely death of the author, it stands as a monument of genius, 

 science, and taste. It is also a pity that the worthy author was 

 not aware, that another American Ornithology had been under- 

 taken some years before his (in France, by Vieillot) which has 

 likewise never been completed, where some of his new species 

 were previously described under different names. 



The result of Wilson's labors, consist in about 320 figures, be- 

 longing to nearly 300 species, among which he has described 56 



