﻿212 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



ceeding towards the south we come to Brazil, an empire 

 almost inexhaustable in the variety and beauty of its 

 productions, among which birds form a prominent 

 feature. With the exception, however, of the two 

 valuable, but enormously expensive*, volumes by Dr. 

 Spix, on the birds of Brazil, nothing has yet been done 

 to illustrate, even by figures, the richest ornithological 

 province in the world. Being one of those who have 

 visited this region, with scientific objects alone in view, 

 we have commenced the publication of that part of 

 our acquisitions which regard ornithology, and hope to 

 continue it to several volumes. We understand that 

 a similar undertaking has been began by professor 

 Schreiber of Vienna, but we have not yet been fortu- 

 nate in meeting with the first part, which we believe is 

 the only one yet published, The two volumes of M. 

 Lesson upon the humming birds may properly come 

 within this division of our subject ; since this family 

 is almost peculiar to the tropical regions of America, 

 many new species are here, for the first time, made 

 known ; and the figures, although stiff and unnatural 

 in their drawing, are yet engraved and coloured with 

 great beauty. The student of this charming family 

 must also consult the previous publication of M.M. 

 Vieillot and Audebert, who have included all the species 

 then known in their costly work, entitled, Oiseaiu? 

 Doves. In regard to the ornithology of Peru, nothing- 

 lias been yet published in a collected form. The few 

 remarks of Mollini on the birds of Chili are vague and 

 unscientific ; but we have just seen a paper, printed in 

 German, by T. H. Von Kittlitz, containing an account of 

 twelve new birds of this country, accompanied by a slight 

 but expressive etching of each species, faithfully coloured, 

 some of which are drawn with a spirit and grace quite op- 

 posed to that stiff and unnatural style so universal among 

 the ornithological artists of the Continent. The celebrated 

 Azara is the only authority we possess on the birds of 



* The price of these two quarto volumes, in London, is about 50/. ! an 

 solute prohibition to their purchase. 



