32 INTRODUCTION. 



lias been latterly evinced, among our ornithologists, a dispo-* 

 sition to follow his alterations, which seem more consonant 

 with the natural arrangement that it should be our 

 aim to discover and to exhibit. Whether the Quinary 

 system, hereafter to be noticed, will ultimately supersede all 

 other arrangements, remains yet to be seen. As, however, 

 the work of Dr. Latham is one of the most voiuminious and 

 valuable that has ever been published on ornithology, and as 

 every student who desires to be deeply imbued with a know- 

 ledge of the science ought to consult it, a list of all the 

 names of the genera, and of the number of the species de- 

 scribed under each genus in that work, is here presented to 

 the reader in one view. 



A SYNOPSIS OF DR. LATHAMS LAST WORE 

 ON BIRDS. 



The Latin names of the Genera, are supplied, in part, 

 from the Index Ornithologicus of Dr. Latham, and the 

 remainder from private information, kindly communicated 

 by Dr. L., from his MS. copy of a new edition of the 

 index not jet published. 



AVIUM GENERA. GENERA OF BIRDS, 

 DIV. I. DIVISION I. 



Aves Terrestres. Land Birds. 



ORDO I. 



Accipitres or Rapacious. 

 Bill incurvated, the upper mandible hooked, with an inden- 

 tation near the tip ; Nostrils, for the most part, open ; Feet 

 made for perching, strong, short ; Body, Head, and Neck, 

 muscular; Skin thick; Flesh impure; Food obtained by 

 rapine or preying on carrion ; Nest built on trees or elevated 



