XVili ; PREFACE. 
business and with editorial duties. There is no volume of the 
‘ Zoologist’ that does not contain numerous articles from his 
pen: these are upon Entomology, Ornithology, and other 
branches of Natural History; and many are of considerable 
importance. With him it was not sufficient to work out only 
one branch of a science, or even all the various ramifications of 
that one science: with whatever he undertook he made himself 
thoroughly familiar. He had taken up the study of Natural 
History, and everything connected with it was of interest to 
him,—whether Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Insects, or 
Plants; he was familiar with every branch of every subject. 
In the year 1850 he read before the Zoological Society, an 
ingenious paper proposing a new Physiological Arrangement of 
Birds. The new system, however, met with slender support, 
and considerable opposition. 
An essay ‘‘On the Employment of Physiological Characters 
in the Classification of Animals,” the result of most careful 
thought, was published in 1856. These two papers are full of 
information, and the reasoning is very acute. Some naturalists 
are still of opinion that Mr. Newman’s views have been too 
much disregarded by modern systematists, especially as to the 
proposed division of birds into two great groups, viz. Hesthogene 
and Gymnogene: the former containing those birds which 
produce their young clothed with down, eyes open, and capable 
at once of running and feeding themselves; the latter, those 
birds which produce their young naked, blind, and helpless. 
The ‘Insect Hunters,’ or Entomology in verse, appeared 
anonymously in 1858: it was written for beginners, and gives 
an insight into the hidden mysteries of the science in simple 
language. The author discourses pleasantly to a young friend 
on ‘The Four Stages of Insect-life:’’ ‘Metamorphosis ;” 
‘The Scale Wings;”’ &c. There is a charming little poetical 
Preface. Although anonymous, the author was at once suspected. 
The book was quickly out of print; and a second edition, bearing 
the author’s name, was published in 1860. In this sppeataly 
several other poems, written at an earlier date. 
In 1858 Mr. Newman became Natural-History Editor of 
‘Field,’ and continued to hold that post until his death. Th 
Natural-History department of that paper, however, largel; 
« 
4 
f 
