Transaclions of the Lhincan Society. 277 



tliem according io their natural AfTinitics:" by N. A. Vigors, 

 Esq. and Dr. Ilorsfield. It is also the most extensive, occup)'ing 

 very nearly one half of the part. From characterizing it in the 

 terms which it merits, the writer of this notice is precluded by the 

 name of one of its authouis being prefixed to the present volume. 

 From analysing it, he is equally prevented by the multiplicity of 

 interesting facts which it embodies. Although it includes only 

 that portion of the collection which is referable to the Raptoi'cs, 

 Illig., and the Jnsessores, Vigors, no less than one hundred and 

 seventy-one species are described in it, fifty-six of which are re- 

 garded as new ; several other new species obtained from various 

 sources being also described in the notes. The number of forms 

 which are either entirely novel, or so prominent as to require to 

 be distinguished as genera from those previously establislied, is no 

 less than twenty. It is chiefly among the very extensive families 

 of Muscicapidcc^ Psitlacidw. and jMel/'phag/da', that these new 

 generic divisions have been found to be necessary, and they are 

 Jiot only precisely characterized, but their connexions with, and 

 their distinctions from, the approximating genera, are particularly 

 pointed out. In this in fact consists the peculiar value of the 

 paper; that the minor details, though finished with that technical 

 accuracy which delights a namer of species, are throughout the 

 whole of it made subservient to the more extensive views on the 

 natural arrangement of the animal creation which have recently 

 been advanced. In every instance a leading object has been to 

 illustrate the aflinities and analogies by which the important class 

 ./tvcs is connected together, and these are repeatedly shown to 

 exist among the minor groups, to an extent equally striking as that 

 among the higher divisions, which was explained by Mr. Vigors in 

 the last part of the Transactions of the same Society. The Geo- 

 graphical Distribution of Birds is another subject which has also 

 received special attention ; and the peculiarities of New Holland 

 are occasionally noticed, as affording suflicient reasons for the 

 absence of certain families from its Fauna, and for the modifica- 

 lion in others of various organs necessary to adapt them for the 

 situation in which they have been placed. Considerable informa- 

 tion relative to their manners has been obtained from Mr. Caley, 



