THE OSPREY. 83 



the fifth instalment of the series and was mistaken in supposing that "in conse- 

 quence of the suspension of the Magazine, the contemplated series of articles 

 was discontinued with the fourth instalment." The matter consists of a 

 general popular, but strictly scientific, account of the Cafhartidaa and Falm- Q 

 nidce. 



United States | Exploring Expedition. | During the years | 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841,1842. 



I Under the command of | Charles Wilkes, U. S. N. | — | Mammalogy | and | Ornithology. 



I By John Cassin, | [etc.] | With a folio Atlas. | — | Philadelphia: | John B. Lippincott & 

 Co. I 1858. [Text, 4to viii, 466 p. Atlas, fol. Si pi.— Mammalogy, p. 1-66, 421-425; Ornitho- 

 logy, p. 67-416, 427-552.] 



"In 1851," says Mr. Cassin, "I was engaged by the Honorable Joint 

 Committee of Congress to superintend the preparation of Plates for the Atlas 

 of Mammology and Ornithology of the United States Exploring E.xpedition, 

 and subsequently to prepare the present volume." 



Cassin also assisted in the preparation of three other independent works. 

 He co-operated with Spencer F. Baird, Charles Girard and S. S. Haldemann 

 in the composition of "Outlines of General Zoology," (1851,) which originally 

 formed part of a more general work, viz: 



"Iconographic Encyclopedia of Science, Literature and Art, systematically arranged 

 by John G. Heck, translated from the German with additions, and edited by Spencer F, 

 Baird." 



It was published by Rudolph Garrigue of New York in 1851. The part 

 relative to "Vertebrata, class iii, Aves. Birds" was solely by Cassin and ex- 

 tended from p. 290 to p. 391 and plates 91 to 105. The classification was 

 most like that of Vigors and Swainson. Cassin was "disposed to look upon 

 the circular or quinary system of Vigors and Swainson as the first approxima- 

 tion to the natural system, and in all respects the most philosophical" (p. 291). 

 All the authors of the Outlines except Cassin commenced with the lowest 

 forms, but Cassin insisted on beginning with the "Accipitres". 



6. 



He also contributed, in 1855, a report on the ornithology of a government 

 expedition, viz: 



United States Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere during 

 the years 1849, 'SO, '51, '52, (4to). 



