Classification. 17 



classification ; every genus contains certain ' Species,' differing 

 from one another in some respects, the points of difference being 

 sometimes marked and clear, at other times slight, and hardly 

 perceptible. Thus, as the family of grouse contains among others 

 the genus ' partridge/ so the genus partridge in its turn comprises 

 these several species, the ' common partridge,' the ' red-legged 

 partridge,' and the 'Barbary partridge.' Again, as the family 

 of warblers contains among others the genus 'chat,' so the 

 genus chat contains the ' whinchat,' the ' stonechat/ and the 

 ' wheatear.' 



It will be needless to pursue this explanation any farther, but 

 I refer to the table, recapitulating the above method of classi- 

 fication, and enumerating the several species of birds known in 

 Wiltshire, each in its own appointed place. 



Such, then, is a general outline of modern classification as 

 commonly adopted in this country. I am quite aware that the 

 above description of it is far from perfect, and some of the sub- 

 divisions may to the experienced seem defective : to enter into 

 further detail would have occupied too much time, and have 

 produced obscurity and confusion; and perhaps, for practical 

 purposes, what I have said will be amply sufficient. Volumes 

 and treatises without number have been written on the subject, 

 and our best Ornithologists have employed a vast deal of time 

 and learning to bring it to perfection : the above is but a short 

 epitome of the result of their labours. To those who care 

 nothing for the science of Ornithology, I fear the repetition of 

 so many hard names may seem irksome ; but to those who would 

 learn something of birds, I am certain it is no loss of time to 

 gain an insight into their classification ; for an acquaintance 

 with this will pave the way to their future studies, simplifying 

 what would otherwise be abstruse, laying bare what would 

 otherwise be hidden, and unravelling what must otherwise be 

 complicated : for (as I observed at the beginning, now I repeat 

 once more) order and method are the very foundation stones 

 of natural history : we can never arrive at any advanced know- 

 ledge of birds without them ; we may be able, indeed, to detect 



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