Dr. Horsfield's Lepidopterous Insects of India. WJ 



gation by the causes above enumerated some portion of the slowness with 

 which it continues to obtain converts may also be unquestionably attri- 

 buted. The very gradual manner in which this mode of viewing Nature 

 has been hitherto developed, affords indeed an apt illustration of the 

 difficulty, even with united labours, of bringing forward a universal sys- 

 tem founded on natural principles. In the HoraeEntomologicae, the work 

 in which it was originally advanced, the attention of the authour was 

 chiefly bestowed on the greater and more important groups. Embodying 

 the reflections of a well-stored mind, energetically directed to the study 

 of Nature on philosophical principles, that admirable work, in its larger 

 views, rather propounded to the reader materials on which to exercise 

 his reasoning faculties. The dictum of the master formed no part of it ; 

 it was the aspiring of the devoted student, anxious to explain the work- 

 ings of his own mind, and desirous of calling into operation, for his cor- 

 rection or confirmation, the judgment of others. In the larger groups 

 the views advanced were general; it was only in one family that even 

 genera were partially adverted to ; in one genus only that the sections and 

 species were detailed as illustrations of the plan. Here then little was 

 effected to influence those minds which require perpetual guidance even 

 to minutiae : the land-marks alone were pointed out, but the directions 

 for every step were purposely and necessarily omitted. 



This was succeeded by the exposition of the system as applicable to 

 the extensive, important, and interesting department of Ornithology. 

 In his memoir in the Linnean Transactions Mr. Vigors developed with 

 the greatest clearness, and in a much more attractive form than can 

 usually be imparted to the abstractions of science, the principles which 

 regulate the distribution of Birds into orders, and of these orders again 

 into families. Subsequently he further illustrated in this Journal, by 

 reference to some of the families, the utility of this mode of viewing Na- 

 ture, in her minor groups also. The circular succession of affinities 

 among the Falconidce was shown, and the especial prominence of five of 

 the forms contained in the family was pointed out. Mr. Vigors has also 

 given, in another number of this Journal, a table of the genera of Birds as 

 referrible to each of his families. The Catalogue of Australian Birds in 

 the collection of the Linnean Society, prepared by him and Dr. Horsfield, 

 and published in the Transactions of that body, contains numerous most 



