ornithologist's text-book. J 59 



and that they are as much consecrated by usage 

 as any other part of the English language. Even 

 supposing that no part of the English language 

 was liable to change with time, would it not be 

 perfectly allowable to make a few slight alterations 

 in the vernacular designations of birds, in order to 

 facilitate the progress of the student? And, more- 

 over, we shall find that our Ornithologists are in 

 favor of the change. Stephens, Selby, and Mudie 

 have introduced many new and excellent English 

 generic appellations, several of which have been 

 adopted in a popular periodical — the Magazine of 

 Natural History. So that here again Mr. Strick- 

 land is mistaken, in supposing that such innovations 

 would never be generally adopted. — So long as 

 Naturalists shall continue to disgrace their works 

 with the unscientific mode of proceeding which we 

 have above reprobated, we may safely predict that 

 the science will not advance in the ratio which 

 might otherwise be expected. As we are now 

 merely throwing together " hints" for the formation 

 of a work on general Ornithology, we shall not here 

 develop this division of our subject further. 



Let us now proceed to enquire as to the most 

 expedient method of obtaining adequate popular 

 descriptions of birds. Part of this would come 

 most properly in the introduction, as for instance 

 on the song of birds, on nidification, &c. &c. And 

 we may here remark that the introduction should 

 contain discussions on classification, nomenclature, 

 physiology, incubation, the general habits of birds, 

 migration, moulting, and on every other point ap- 

 pertaining to the science. Directions for the pre 

 parations of specimens for a museum, and for the 

 labelling of ornithological collections should also 

 be included. But to return to the popular descrip- 

 tions. These should be written with a view of 

 including every peculiarity, and every habit which 



