100 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



and fifth to Ichthiology, the sixth and seventh to 

 Entomology, and the remaining seven to Ornitho- 

 logy. The seven first do not properly come within 

 the pale of our present notices, but we may say 

 that the plates of the three first volumes are colored, 

 and altogether worthy the name of Heath : and it 

 is to be wished that the birds had all been as faith- 

 ful to nature. The work came out in parts, every 

 two of which made a volume. Dr. Shaw died 

 shortly after the completion of the eighth volume, 

 on which the work was continued by Mr. Stevens. 

 This Author, instead of blindly adhering to the 

 arrangement of Linneus, as Shaw did, adopted all 

 the improvements of modern systematists, and thus 

 continued the work till the end of the 13th vol. : 

 half the 14th (concluding) volume was devoted to a 

 synopsis of birds on the Quinary system of Vigors, 

 and the remaining half to a full and copious index 

 of the whole work. The work cannot in any sense 

 be called a masterly one, but it is useful for reference, 

 and till a better is produced, the Zoologist must be 

 content with this. The plates are said to be " from 

 the first authorities and most select specimens," but 

 several are so bad that they seem selected only to 

 set off the rest. The Ring Ouzel is a very striking 

 instance, this is copied from Bewick ? no ; he is not 

 " a first authority," but from Buffon ! Such a bird 

 could not exist two hours. However, it is but 

 justice to state that more judgment is generally 

 displayed in the selection, and more accuracy in 



