34 ornithologist's text-book. 



of birds, and is chiefly by Svvainson, with co- 

 loured plates, by the author. Of Swainson's ta- 

 lents as an ornithological painter, we have already 

 spoken, and his success in this department is so 

 well known as to require no further notice. Tn 

 the Northern Zoology — as it is termed for the 

 sake of brevity — the Quinary System is most ad- 

 mirably and lucidly expounded, and the affinities 

 of the higher groups are truly, in the words of Selby, 

 " traced with the hand of a master." We cannot 

 speak in too high terms of admiration with regard 

 to this splendid national production. It is un- 

 doubtedly the best work of its kind that has ever 

 appeared, and will, we expect, long remain so. It 

 must ever hold a distinguished place on the shelf 

 of the philosophic Ornithologist, and may always 

 be consulted with safety, pleasure and advantage. 



Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural 

 History, by William Swain son, Esq., x^.C.G. 12mo. 

 6s. Longman and Co. London. 1834. 



To give an idea of the merits of this volume, we 

 shall transcribe the notice of it which appeared in 

 the Magazine of Natural History for April, 1835 : — 



" Mr. Swainson's Discourse is the most lucid, 

 complete, and masterly introduction to Natural 

 History that has hitherto been published in any 

 language. The author was, before the appearance 

 of this volume, deservedly regarded as the greatest 

 Zoologist Britain has produced ; he may now fairly 

 claim to be placed on an equality with the most 

 esteemed of any age or any country. The plan of 

 the work is simple, the arrangement of the subject 

 excellent, and the phraseology vigorous and flow- 

 ing. The volume before us is the first of a series 

 from the perusal of which we anticipate much 



