IN EUROPE — BRITAIN. 
7 
London with men of this stamp, and aided especially by the 
two last named, I have remodelled the Catalogue which I have 
been for some years compiling, of all the Genera of Mammifers, 
and which, with your permission, I propose to read on another 
occasion, not doubting that I shall be much aided by your 
observations on the application of my system to so important a 
branch of Zoology. Mr. Jenyns, the well known author of the 
Manual of British Vertebrate Animals^ pursues his varied 
investigations into the small Mammifers of those islands ; and, 
in a late excellent memoir, corrects all the errors into which 
he had fallen. He has published a new species of Arvicola, 
under the expressive, though not laudable, name of neglecta, 
which species I believe not only to be a good one, but to 
occur on the continent also, being nothing else than the true 
agrestis of Linnseus and Nilsson, which has been brought to 
light by He Selys Longchamps. 
Ornithology flourishes in Britain more than ever, as is 
proved, not only by the various inimitable works of Gould 
before spoken of, but by those of Macgillivray, of Eyton, of 
Yarrell, of Jardine, and of Selby. The two last authors have 
united to resume, after a short interruption, but with increased 
energy and improved execution, their beautiful Illustrations 
of Ornithology. If the United Kingdom has to deplore the 
irreparable loss of the erudite Vigors, and the far removal of 
Swainson, who nevertheless may render great service to Or- 
nithology in New Zealand, it may yet console itself with the 
labours of Mr. George Robert Gray, a worthy brother of the 
well known naturalist of that name. This gentleman, having 
laid aside Entomology, seems desirous of applying himself more 
strictly to the study of Birds, which are now his special depart- 
ment in the British Museum ; and while peacefully engaged in 
arranging them in the magnificent and splendid gallery, lately 
built for them at the national expense, he has not neglected to 
send to press, a second edition of his List of the Genera of 
Birds, the first edition of which was already celebrated as 
the most complete comparative work known on that subject. 
He and I mutually satisfied ourselves on many of the details 
of that class : he was also willing to adopt many particulars 
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