200 
ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 
by imposing names upon new species. We have, it is to 
be hoped, outlived the age when the bare dictum of au- 
thority was implicitly believed and followed. Inductive 
and analogical reasoning will soon obtain its legitimate 
influence in this, as it has long been paramount in all 
other branches of physical science, “ through which one 
principle and one spirit alike prevails.”* In the writ- 
ings of such labourers, in the different departments of 
zoology, as M.M. Bennett, Owen, Ogelby, Westwood, 
Doubleday, Walker, Halliday, Gray, Gould, and many 
others, we already see those who will become worthy 
successors to such veterans among us as were first 
in the race:” who have more or less contributed to lay 
the foundation-stone of philosophic classification, or 
who have already “ won, and passed away.” And if 
we refrain from mentioning others whose talents are no 
less promising, it is only because they are wisely em- 
ployed in that preparatory study which is essential to 
the real advancement of our favourite science, and to 
the acquisition of any fame that is to be permanent. 
(170.) Adverting to what we have already advanced 
on those points which constitute the merits of ornitho- 
logical works, whether general or particular, we shall 
now arrange such as are the best known, or are the 
most valuable, under the following heads : — I. General 
systems ; 2. General systematic descriptions ; .3. Partial 
scientific descriptions ; 4. Local or geographic ornitho- 
logy ; 5, Illustrative or iconographic ornithology. To 
each of these we shall subjoin short critical notices on 
its execution and contents. 
(171.) Of GENERAL SYSTEMS, which do not embrace 
the details or descriptions of the species the most 
popular or esteemed are those of Illiger, Cuvier, 
Vieillot and lemniinck. As we have explained the 
peculiarities, and compared the several merits of these 
in a former volume t, it wiU be unnecessary to repeat 
the same details in this place. The groups of lUiger 
• .Sir William Hersohel's Preliminary Discourse 
^ ClsssiScation of Animals. 
