CONCLUSION. 



WE 'here close o.ur General History of Birds, with the satisfac- 

 tion of experiencing that it has been favourably received during its 

 progress. 



In a work of this extent, some errors must be unavoidable ; 

 among which may be remarked a mistake in the first volume, p. 32, 

 in respect to what is called New-Holland Vulture. A drawing of 

 this was, many years since, communicated by our late friend, Gen. 

 Davies, under that appellation, but the source he took it from 

 cannot now be known. It should appear, that the want of feathers 

 on the head and neck had induced the General to suppose it a 

 Vulture; yet the shape of the bill and claws scarcely satisfied us 

 that it belonged to that Genus, and it is but very lately that our 

 doubts have been confirmed, through the kindness of Lord Stanley, 

 who put into our hands a specimen for examination. In respect to 

 the plate given of this bird, the outline and colour are sufficiently 

 correct, though the bill and claws are not equally so; the former is too 

 long, and the upper mandible should be more curved, approaching 

 to that of the Gallinaceous tribe ; the claws' should be shorter; but 

 what more pointedly determines it not to belong to the Vulture is 

 the tail, which consists of eighteen feathers, whereas the number in 

 the Vulture is never more than twelve; in shape too it is singular, 

 the feathers being decumbent, or placed declining over each other, 

 as in the common Poultry Hen, and the tail itself also seems to have 

 been carried in an erect situation ; hence it can scarcely be reconciled 

 to any Genus yet kuown. But as it clearly belongs to the Gallina- 

 ceous order, it might have place after the Menura, and form a Genus 

 by the name of Alectura, unlessone more appropriate may be found, 

 on account of its manners, which at present are unknown. 



