.ORNITHOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. TEMMINCK. 



185 



own fame, to have imbibed the ancient notion that no 

 genus is to be retained, if the links by which it is con- 

 nected to another are discovered. Hence he adopts 

 very few of the genera intimated by M. Vieillot, and 

 even omits some of those defined by M. Cuvier. His 

 merits, however, in the arrangement of his generic 

 groups, and the high finish he has bestowed upon them, 

 have given to his system a prevalence and popularity 

 above all others which have appeared since the days of 

 Linnaeus ; next to whom, as an ornithologist, he as- 

 suredly ranks. The experienced ornithologist will per- 

 ceive the artificial nature of the following orders, but 

 the natural connection of a number of the genera they 

 contain : 



