CUVIERIAN SYSTEM. — BIRDS. 173 
ferences, are highly valuable. But, in arranging these 
into a comprehensive form, our author falls far short of 
his illustrious predecessor. He has rested his distinc- 
tions, as we have already seen, upon characters which, 
however good, are not always comprehensible, except to 
the anatomist. The utility of his system, for general 
use, is consequently much diminished, and it gives the 
_ student an impression (certainly an erroneous one) that 
the internal, and not the external, structure of an animal 
alone decides its place in nature. These difficulties are 
further increased by the want of those synoptical tables, 
so admirably constructed by Linneus, where the essen- 
tial characters of each group are clearly and luminously 
stated, and where the eye, at a single glance, can em- 
brace them all. On ‘the other hand, we cannot but 
admire the precision with which the anatomical distinc- 
tions of many of the minor groups are made out, and the 
vast additions which this celebrated writer has made to’ 
the other details of zoology. His work, with all its 
imperfections of arrangement, has been justly designated 
a “ mine of wealth, as rich as it is inexhaustible.” 
(226.) The class of birds is arranged in the follow- 
ing method ; the whole being divided into six great 
orders, five of which are natural, namely, the Raptores, 
the Insessores, the Rasores, the Grallatores, and the 
Natatores of this work ; the sixth being composed of 
the climbing birds (Scansores), which Linneus, more 
correctly, arranged with the Passeres or, Perchers. 
Orper I. <AccipitTres L. Harpyia Cuv. 
Vulture Family. Morphnus Cwv. 
Vultur Cymindis Cuv. 
Cathartes. aula! Cuv. 
Percnopterus. ilvus Bech. 
Gypaetos. Buteo Bech. 
Circus Bech. 
Falcon Family. Gypogeranus Jiliger 
Falco ZL. a F 
Hierofalco Cuv. Owl Family. 
Aquila duct. Otas (Asio Anfiq..) 
Halizetus Sav. Ulula Cuv. 
Pandion Sav. Strix Sav. 
Circetus Veil. Syrnium Sav. 
