48 FEBRUARY 



There are no more remorseless revolutionists than 

 men of science. Which of us has not grown up in 

 the pious belief that the type of monarchy among 

 birds was supplied by the eagle ? Few people paid 

 much attention to MacGillivray when, sixty years 

 ago, he announced that the crows (CorvidcK) must be 

 accounted among the most highly organised birds; 1 

 nor (though in the interval the light of evolution 

 had been thrown on the tangled maze of systematic 

 classification) was much importance attached to the 

 late Professor Parker's indorsement of MacGilli- 

 vray's view, pronounced forty years later : 



1 In all respects, physiological, morphological, and orni- 

 thological, the crow may be placed at the head, not only of 

 its own great series (birds of the Crow form), but also as 

 the unchallenged chief of the whole of the Carinatce.' 2 



Nevertheless, here comes the very latest authority 

 of all, Professor Alfred Newton, the collaborateur 

 in classification of Herr Gadow, and sums up thus 

 in the introduction to his admirable Dictionary of 

 Birds:* 



' It is, therefore, confidently that the present writer 

 asserts, as Professor Parker, with far more right to speak 

 on the subject, has already done, that at the head of the 



1 British Birds, i. p. 485. 



2 Zoological Societies Transactions, ix. p. 300. 



3 London : A. and C. Black, 



