ON THE CHANGKE OF 



The species contained in this list are arranged 

 according to the system of Cuvier, in his " Regne 

 Animal/' published in 1817, which is certainly the 

 most complete arrangement of the animal kingdom 

 that has ever yet been offered to the world. 



When the foregoing observations were made, I was 

 not acquainted with the information which had been 

 published on this subject by various authors, parti- 

 cularly by Aristotle, Schneider, Varro, Ausonius, 

 Blumenbach, &c. 



I could only judge of the novelty of these facts, 

 by the inquiries I made of other persons, who had 

 directed their attention more particularly to the ha- 

 bits, economy, and peculiarities of birds, than I my- 

 self had done. Through the kindness of Mr James 

 Wilson, of Edinburgh, I was favoured with a com- 

 munication last year, (1818), from him, containing 

 the result of his knowledge, which appeared to Be 

 very extensive, on this subject ; and also with an 

 extract from the writings of Schneider This ex- 

 tract I shall take the liberty of transcribing, as it 

 has enabled me to add some species to the list 

 which I had before made. 



" Aves viduas dictas domi altas bis in anno 

 plumagium mutare vidit clarissimus Gallus; ver- 

 nalis quidem mutatio maribus colorem plum arum 



* The writings here alluded to, are appended by Schneider, 

 in the form of notes and illustrations to the last edition of the 

 treatise " De Arte Venandi cum Avibus," by Emperor Frede- 

 rick ir. 



