60 REVIEWS — A MONOGRAPH OF THE TROCHILIBAE, 



those wenera are of some extent, leaving many -witli only a single 

 species. Many perhaps of these genera we think we perceive to be 

 natural and sound, of many others we have great doubts. When the 

 principles on which they are founded are fully explained every 

 thoughtful naturalist who is interested in this department of science, 

 and who does not fancy that he displays his learning by adopting as 

 many new names as possible, can judge for himself, and after such 

 consideration the best founded opinions will ere long prevail. At pre- 

 sent we are willing to extend great candour to Mr. Gould's labours, 

 sensible as we are of the merit which certainly belongs to him. We 

 cannot conclude without reverting to the extreme beauty of the 

 colou.red lithographic plates. Some of the loveliest objects in nature 

 are represented with such correctness and spirit, and the metallic 

 lustre of the gem feathers is so successfully imitated, that in order 

 to feel any deficiency the real object must be brought into comparison 

 with its image, and even then we rather wonder how much has been 

 accomplished than feel disposed to complain of what may be want- 

 ing. The book is so very beautiful that it is a privilege to be able to 

 look at it. Those who have the means and have any taste for nature 

 should hasten to acquire it. As in several of the best modern works 

 on ornithology and entomology, we have here the flowers drawn and 

 coloured with the same care as the birds, and selected from the flora 

 of the country to which they belong, so that the sources of pleasure 

 and instruction are multiplied, and the botanist has his share in the 

 benefit to be derived from the work. The XVth part contains an 

 exquisite delineation of our own charming Canadian humming bird, 

 with a very interesting account of the author's observations upon it 

 during his recent visit, and of his success in conveying a pair alive to 

 Europe, though unfortunately he failed to prolong their lives there. 

 Mr. Grould's work cannot be known without being admired both for 

 its pre-eminent artistic qualities and for the genuine love and faith- 

 ful observation of nature which it displays. When it is completed 

 naturalists can with real advantage study the species of Trochilidae ; 

 whether they will acquiesce in all Mr. Grould's genera formed or 

 adopted by him, seems to us, with our present means of judging, 



somewhat doubtful. 



W. H. 



