110 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



the same plate, (which we think under any circum- 

 stance to be a bad practice) why not place in 

 juxtaposition birds of the same genus ? In one 

 plate are actually placed two species not only in 

 different genera, but of different families — the Min- 

 now Kingfisher, and the Common Hoopoo : and 

 then again the male and female are sometimes 

 placed on different plates as in the case of the 

 Garden Ouzel. These are not trivial nor unimpor- 

 tant errors, and we hope to find them avoided hi 

 any future work of the kind in which Mr. Selby 

 may engage, and that we may thus be enabled to 

 bestow unqualified praise on his meritorious un- 

 dertakincrs. 



A Treatise on the British Song Birds ; including observations on 

 their Habits, Manners of Incubation, &c, with remarks on their 

 management in a domestic state. By Patrjc Svme, 12s. 1823. 



From its title it will be seen that this work has 

 somewhat a similar aim as Bechstein's Cage Birds, 

 but instead of describing 200 species-, only 30 are 

 mentioned by Mr. Syme. The Song Birds falls 

 very far short of the Cage Birds, for the information 

 contained in Mr. Syme's work is neither so precise, 

 nor so ample as that in the work of the German 

 aviculturist. The British Song Birds is neverthe- 

 less by no means destitute of interest, and contains 

 here and there very entertaining notices and anec- 

 dotes of the various birds under consideration, and 



