PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. xix 
Naturalists, I hope, will approve of the numerous subgenera 
I have deemed it necessary to establish among the Birds of 
Prey, Passerine, and Shore-Birds; they appear to me to have 
completely elucidated genera hitherto involved in much con- 
fusion. J have also marked, as exactly as I could, the corres- 
pondence of these subdivisions with the genera of MM. de La- 
cépede, Meyer, Wolf, Temminck, Savigny, and have refer- 
red to each of them all the species of which I could obtain a 
very positive knowledge. ‘This laborious work will prove of 
value to those who may hereafter attempt a true history of 
Birds. The splendid works on Ornithology published within 
a few years, and those chiefly of M. Le. Vaillant, which are 
filled with so many interesting observations, together with M. 
Vieillot’s, have been of much assistance to me in designating 
with precision the species they represent. 
The general division of this class remains as I published it 
in 1798 in my “ Tableau Elémentaire(1).” 
The general division of Reptiles, by my friend M. Brong- 
niart, I have thought proper to preserve, but I have prose- 
cuted very extensive and laborious anatomical investigations 
to obtain my ulterior subdivisions. M. Oppel, as I have al- 
ready stated, has partly taken advantage of these preparatory 
labours, and whenever my genera finally agreed with his, I 
have noticed the fact. ‘The work of Daudin, indifferent as it 
is, has been useful to me for indications of details, but the par- 
ticular divisions I have made in the genera Monitor and 
Gecko, are the product of my own observations on a great 
number of Reptiles recently brought to the Museum by Messrs 
Peron and Geoflroy. 
My labours with regard to the Fishes will probably be found 
to exceed those I have bestowed on the other vertebrated 
dependently of this, my first volume was printed in the beginning of 1816. Four 
volumes are not printed as quickly asa pamphlet ofa few pages. I say no more. 
(Note to Ed. 1829.) 4 
(1) I only mention this, because an amiable naturalist, M. Vieillot, ina recent work 
has attributed to himself the union of the Picw with the Passeres. Ihad published 
it in 1798, with my other arrangements, so as to render them public in the Museum 
since 1811 and 1812. 
