MODERN ORNITHOLOGICAL WRITERS. 199 
few exceptions, the birds of Europe* are now arranged 
under their modern genera. The same may he said of 
those of North America, with the exception of those 
figured by M. Audubon, whose nomenclature is alto- 
gether obsolete. We hope to accomplish the same 
object in regard to the birds of Brazil, Western Africa, 
and Australia. A portion of the latter, indeed, have 
been well illustrated, and correctly named by M. Hors- 
field and Vigors. Then, in regard to general species, 
the little volume of M. Waglert is highly valuable; for 
not only does its author confine himself to such species 
as he has personally examined, but he rectifies the errors 
of his predecessors, and refers to their modern groups 
all such species as have been improperly associated with 
the genera he has investigated. A considerable number 
of the birds figured in the Planches Colorr^es of M.M. 
Temminck and Logier, have Ixten placed in their 
modern groups ; but by far the greater part, particularly 
the Raptorcs, the Columhidte, Psittneidee, Picidtr, Miis~ 
acapidtF, Sylmadai, Wlcrulidce, and Trochiiidec, are 
left in their rather than in their generic station. 
In concluding this short but comprehensive survey of 
the present state of systematic ornithology, we feel 
much gratification in perceiving that the principles 
advocated in a former volume}, are widely and rapidly 
gaining ground, and that a British school of zoology 
may be said to be already founded. The science has 
been taken up by several who possess that union of 
natural and cultivated talent, hitherto so rarely met 
with in writers of our own country. It is at length 
perceived that zoology is no longer a study of names, 
or of crude technicalities — that no honour is to be 
reaped by the invention of artificial systems, or even 
* We Ciinnot nllude to this pertinn of geogr.sphic orpithology witlioiit 
advcrtui!! to the l.cnutiful and even masletly figures in Mr. Gouid’s viorK 
on the birds of Kiiro\>e. It is on'y neevs^ary to compare the drawing ana 
execution of thesp flgurcii with the mos't costlv works of a .similar descrip- 
tion recently published on liie Continent, to show tlie decided superiority 
of the British scliuol of zoological painting over all others of the present 
day. 
•f Species Avium. % Preliminary Discourse. 
o 4 
