112 MEMOIR OF 



the same principle ; but in compliance with 

 the prejudices of his times, he assumes the diffe- 

 rent kinds of food, the varieties of the size, the 

 nature of the flesh, and even what he calls the 

 moral qualities, as the grounds of subdivisions. 

 His second and third books contain a description 

 and history of the species. To the exposition of 

 each genus, are prefixed general observations, 

 including the fabulous accounts of the ancients, 

 and then such common properties as appertain to 

 the genus. 



He then proceeds to the specific details, stating 

 the most important particulars with precision, 

 and finishes with an account of particular 

 habits."* 



The following is Mr Willughby's system ol 

 ornithology. 



LAND FOWL. 



Rapacious diurnal birds. 

 Rapacious nocturnal birds. 

 Crow kind. 

 Woodpecker kind. 

 Poultry kind. 

 Pigeon kind. 



THRUSH KIND. 



Small birds with slender bills. 



Small birds with thick and short bills. 



* Rees's Cyclopaedia, article Ornithology. * 



