AISTORICAL PREFACE. xv 
Tue Post-Linnzan Epdcu: 1758-1800. 
(1758-1766.) 
The LInnnean Period. — An interregnum here, during which not a notable work or 
worker appears in North American ornithology itself. But events elsewhere occurred, 
the reflex action of which upon our theme is simply incalculable, fully requiring the 
recognition of this period. The dates, 1758-1766, are respectively those of the appear- 
ance of the tenth and of the twelth edition of the “Systema Nature” of Linneus. In 
the former the illustrious Swede first formally and consistently applied his system of 
nomenclature to all birds known to him; the latter is his completed system, as it finally 
left his hands ; and from then to now, zodlogists and especially ornithologists have dis- 
puted whether 1758 or 1766 should be taken as the starting-point of zodlogical nomen- 
clature. In ornithology, the matter is still at issue between the American and the 
British schools. However this may result, the fact remains that during this “Linnean 
period,” 1758 to 1766, we have the origin of all the tenable specific names of those of 
our birds which were known to Linneeus; the gathering up and methodical digestion 
and systematic arrangement of all that had gone before. Let this scant decade stand, — 
mute in America, but eloquent in Sweden, and since applauded to the echo of the world. 
Nor is this all. The year 1760 saw the famous “Ornithologia” of Mathurin Jacques 
Brisson (born April 20, 1725 —died June 23, 1806), in six portly quartos with 261 folded 
plates, and elaborate descriptions in Latin and French of hundreds of birds, a fair pro- 
portion of which are North American. Many are described for the first time, though 
unfortunately not in the binomial nomenclature. The work holds permanent place; 
and most of the original descriptions of Brisson’s are among the surest bases of Linnean 
species. 
(1766-1785.) 
The Forsterian Period. — Nearly twenty years have now elapsed with so little in- 
cident that two brochures determine the complexion of this period. John Reinhold 
Forster was a learned and able man, whose connection with North American ornithology 
is interesting. In 1771 he published a tract, now very scarce and of no consequence 
whatever, entitled “A Catalogue of the Animals of North America.” But it was the 
first attempt to do anything of the sort, —in short, the first thing of its kind. It gives 
302 birds, neither described nor even named scientifically. But that was a large num- 
ber of North American birds to even mention in those days,— more than Wilson gave 
in 1814. Forster followed up this exploit in 1772 with an interesting and valuable 
account of 58 birds from Hudson’s Bay, occupying some fifty pages of the “‘ Philosophical 
Transactions.” Several of these birds were new to science, and were formally named, — 
such as our White-throated Sparrow, Black-poll Warbler, Hudsonian Titmouse, and 
Eskimo Curlew. Aside from its intrinsic merit, this paper is notable as the first formal 
treatise exclusively devoted to a collection of North American birds sent abroad. The 
period is otherwise marked by the publication in 1780 of Fabricius’ “ Fauna Groenlandica,” 
in which some 50 birds of Greenland receive attention ; and especially by the appearance 
of a great statesman and one of the Presidents of the United States in the réle of orni- 
thologist, Thomas Jefferson’s ‘Notes on the State of Virginia” having been first pri- 
