in the ^^ Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturellesy 93 



have been long since pointed out, and well distinguished, [trcs-bien 

 distingues], by MM. Brisson, BulTon, Vieillot, Le Vaillaiit, 

 Kuhl, and other naturalists who have made a true progress in this 

 branch of ornithology, without overcharging it with new* and 

 useless denominations." A few minute observations, which shall 

 be briefly noted in their places, against particular names, are 

 added to this sweeping condemnation. 



When you take into consideration, Gentlemen, the strong and 

 unqualified language in which these censures are conveyed, you 

 will be surprised to learn that the characters and descriptions of 

 the greater part of the genera thus, censured are as yet unpublished. 

 Most of the new groups of the Psi/tacidce, characterized by Dr. 

 Horsfield and myself, belong to the Ornithology of New Holland, 

 our observations on which are only now in the course of publica- 

 tion in the forthcoming Volume of the Linnean Transactions. I 

 have intimated this fact in one of the preceding numbers+ of this 

 journal; and in a succeeding number I have again merely referred J 

 to these genera, introducing their names ouly, Avithout entering 

 into any details of the character or habits of the birds that com- 

 pose them ; being unwilling to anticipate observations about to 

 appear in another publication. I do not wish to dwell upon the 

 inconsistency, if not the injustice, of any wiiter's pronouncing 

 the characters of groups to be minute and valueless before he has 

 seen them. I shall only observe that such a mode of criticism is 

 not founded on the usual principles of reasoning, and certainly 

 does not accord with the courtesy which generally obtains among 

 naturalists. 



The time has however gone by, when any individual will be 

 allowed to assume the right of prescribing how Nature is to be 

 investigated. Natural History is no longer an occult science on 



* I do not exactly discern the force of the above epithets of the French 

 writer. If we give a name to a newly characterized group it must necessarily 

 be a new one. To give an old name would decidedly be an errour. A useless 

 name must indeed be allowed to be objectionable ; but it must be proved to 

 be useless before the objection can be made with justice. 



f Vol. II. p. 61. 



t lb. p. 400. 



