88 ornithologist's text-book. 



the proper heads in the body of the work, — We are 

 sorry to observe that the system of Temminck is 

 followed in this excellent work ; for although this 

 system is a great improvement on that of Linnaeus, 

 and less objectionable than the Cuvierian, yet we 

 think it would have been much more to the ad- 

 vancement of the science, to have adopted the 

 Circular System (p. 30) of the great Macleay, which 

 is, undoubtedly, the most natural classification hi- 

 therto promulgated. At least, we think Mr. Hewit- 

 son should have divided his genera more minutely. 

 Who that has studied the Falconidm, the Sylviadcc, 

 the Anatida, or any other natural family in their 

 native haunts,- will consent to include them all in a 

 single genus, without further division ? Each na- 

 tural family evidently divides itself into five equally 

 natural subfamilies, and these again into genera, 

 without reference to any particular number. Our 

 author also frequently places on the same plate the 

 eggs of birds belonging, even according to Tem- 

 minck, to totally distinct genera. The eggs of two 

 birds should not, of course, be placed on the same 

 plate, where there are any species intermediate be- 

 tween those two birds. And again, the author 

 includes the Green Grosbeak in FringiUa, while 

 he very properly removes the Haw Grosbeak into 

 Coccothraustes ; how, in the name of wonder, so 

 flagrant an error could find its way into a work 

 like the British Oology, we are quite at a loss to 

 determine. 



This beautiful and highly valuable work must 

 of course be possessed by every British Naturalist. 

 The list of subscribers already exhibits the names 

 of most of our eminent Ornithologists, and will, no 

 doubt, continue to increase. We hope that Mr. 

 Hewitson will figure the eggs of Coccyzits Ameri- 

 canus, Alauda alpestris, liegnlns ignicapillus, and, 

 in short, every species of which a single individual 



