CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 223 



cimens therein described being before us ; but, 

 excepting in two instances, for reasons assigned, 

 we have forborne any thing beyond a mere cita- 

 tion of them as examples in point ; unless, indeed, 

 when in our general survey, we have been able 

 to add something to the knowledge of their 

 habits and economy. 



In our arrangement of the Genera we have 

 followed the Prince of Canino, (Ch. L. Bona- 

 parte,) in his "Conspectus G-enerum Avium." 

 Up to the present time this arrangement is the 

 most complete and perfect which has as yet been 

 laid before the scientific world. That it will re- 

 quire many modifications, many alterations, and 

 many additions, cannot be denied; and it is 

 equally clear that some transposition of generic 

 terms has been already effected ; and this very 

 fact leads us to the premises with which we com- 

 menced, namely, that the history of the Hum- 

 ming-birds is now only beginning to open before 

 us. Thus, then, (to repeat our own words,) 

 although 300 species are now Cabinet-contained, 

 our knowledge of this group is very far from 

 being complete ; we are slow in obtaining a full 

 grasp of the subject, and years may pass over 

 before that grasp is ample. 



A vast stride, however, is made in the right 

 direction, and should another edition of this un- 

 pretending volume be hereafter required, we 

 hope to be able to enrich it with novel and 

 interesting matter. 



