352 Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornithology. 



where the species are not numerous, serve not, as I have often endea- 

 voured to indicate in the course of my observations on arrangement, to 

 detach the species in which they are found from any group, but merely 

 to indicate the passage from it to neighbouring groups. Our grand ob- 

 ject in systematick arrangement is to select our types ; and then point 

 out the gradual interchange of character by which species more or less 

 accord with these types. In Ornithology, perhaps, more than in any 

 other department of Zoology, this object may be attained with the great- 

 est success. Our materials are, comparatively speaking, more perfect ; 

 and fewer intervals in the larger groups remain to be filled up. 



Since the above was written, a bird has been brought to me, which 

 probably may come into the present group. The nail is very small, al- 

 most a rudiment, but still is more developed than in the other species. 

 The size of the bird, and general appearance, accord more with the true 

 Partridges than with Cryptonyx. It appears to form a still nearer con- 

 nection than any species which has hitherto come under my observation, 

 between these two groups. I have not leisure at present to examine the 

 species, but hope shortly to say more on the subject. 



On some species of Birds from the North-west Coast of 



America. 



Captain Beechey, on his return from the late expedition to the Western 

 shores of North America, having kindly transmitted to me the pubhck 

 collection of birds formed during that expedition, for the purpose of 

 making a catalogue of them for the Appendix to the forthcoming account 

 of his voyage, and several other species also from the same locahty, but 

 not existing in the pubUck collection, having been presented to the Zoo- 

 logical Society from various quarters, I have had the pleasing opportu- 

 nity of observing among them many species which are rarely found in our 

 home collections, as well as a few which appear altogether new to science. 

 Being aware of the advantages arising from the speedy publication of 

 such recent acquisitions, and presuming that some time must elapse be- 

 fore the Account of the Voyage will appear, I have requested and ob- 

 tained Captain Beechey' s permission to give a brief account of a few of 



