— 475 — 



developed — the highest type of bird, or the type of the most 

 perfect bird. There is a great diversity of opinion among 

 scientists, as to the relation of the different families of birds. 

 The variety of opinion is very great, and the difference of 

 these opinions is very wide. A burning question is where shall 

 the Falconidce be placed ? To which other family is it most 

 closely related ? All Naturalists think the present classifica- 

 tion is purely artificial and are continually making investiga- 

 tions with the hope of finally discovering the natural sequence. 

 Already considerable advance has been made from Cuvier's 

 system, yet each step seems to emphasise the pure artificial- 

 lity of the present arrangement. But most ornithologists 

 have accepted the theory that, as at present known, the 

 Trush family are the most highly developed, though Seebohm, 

 one of the greatest of English authorities, clings to the Cuvi- 

 arian system and places the Birds of Prey first, explaining 

 however that he does so, because the Cuviarian system is the 

 best known and because the natural other system has not 

 yet been discovered. I am inclined to agree with him. There 

 would have been wisdom in retaining the old until the new 

 had been perfected and so have saved the continual changing 

 which the present state of affairs involve. Each student finds 

 a little bit of additional knowledge and at once tries to 

 make the entire system conform to it, to the ultra confusion 

 of system."— (Letter 24th March, 1891). 



Classification is one of the most important portions 

 of ornithology. A new light has dawned on this science 

 since the learned researches of Dr. Thos. Brewer, of 

 Boston, and other American and European savants 

 who have applied oology to the classification of species ; 

 thus, several rare hawks, in different plumage, have 

 been recognized by their eggs. The eggs of owls, instead 

 of being elliptical like, those of the generality of birds, 

 are spherical. Eggs are also identified by their markings, 

 lines, spots, stripes, or by the absence of them, like 

 the eggs of some of the thrushes. 



Before we examine the contents of the collection 

 before us, let me point out one particular respecting 

 the birds of prey : the female in general is nearly 

 one-third larger than the male. 



I shall content myself with familiarizing you with 

 some of the specimens. Let us select a few out of each 

 order. 



