INTRODUCTION. XClll 
increased the number of orders to an unne- 
cessary extent, multiplied the genera, and, out of 
^e^e varieties, produced what they supposed to 
. ® entire new species. Others, sensible of the 
'•npropriety of this, and wishing to simplify the 
Science as much as possible, have reduced the 
®^‘lers and genera to a few, and have thus thrown 
whose food, liabits, and other characteris- 
^*eal features are widely different, into one and 
c Same tribe, and thereby confounded our per- 
'^cpfion of that beautiful gradation of affinity and 
J^®^c>nblance, which Nature herself seems to have 
studious of preserving throughout the whole, 
.“c principal cause of the great diversity of clas- 
®*^Cations appears to be owing to the neglect, or 
of opportunity, in these writers, of observing 
■'Danners of the living birds, in their unconfined 
the 
and in their native countries. As well might 
* csophers attempt to class mankind into their 
Pcctive religious denominations, by a mere 
^ ^■'■'nation of their physiognomy, as naturalists 
Parm a correct arrangement of animals, without 
^ knowledge of these necessary particulars. 
is only by personal intimacy, that we can truly 
®®certain the character of either, more especially 
^ of the feathered race, noting their particular 
rnodes of constructing their nests, manner 
9 
