212 
ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS- 
ceeiling towards tlie south we come to Brazil, an empire 
almost inexhaustahle in the variety and beauty of its 
productions, among which birds form a prominent 
feature. AFith the exception, iiowever, of the two 
valuable, but enormously expensive*, volumes by Dr. 
Spix, on the birds of Brazil, nodiing has yet been done 
to illustrate, even by figures, the ricliest ornithological 
province in the world. Being one of those who have 
visited this region, with scientific objects alone in view, 
we have commenced the publication of that jrart of 
our acquisitions which regard ornithology, and hope to 
continue it to several volumes. We understand that 
a similar undertaking has been began by professor 
Schreilrer of Vienna, but we have not yet been fortu- 
nate in meeting with the first part, which we believe is 
the only one yet published. The two volumes of M. 
Lesson upon the humming birds may pro])erly come 
within this division of our subject ; since this family 
is almost peculiar to the tropical regions of America, 
many new species are here, for the first time, made 
known ; and the figures, although stiff and unnatural 
in their draudng, are yet engraved and coloured with 
great beauty. The student of this charming family 
must also consult the previous publication of M.M. 
Vheillot and Audebert, who have included all the species 
then known in their costly work, entitled, Oiseau.v 
Doris. In regard to the ornithology of Peru, nothing 
has been yet published in a collected form. The few 
remarks of Mollini on the birds of (fiiili are vague and 
unscientific ; but we have just seen a paper, printed in 
German,, by T. H. Von Kittlitz, containing an account of 
twelve new birds of this country, accompanied by a slight 
but expressive etching of each species, faithfully coloured 
some of which are drawn with a spirit and grace quite op- 
posed to that stiff and unnatural style so universal among 
the ornithological artists of the Continent. The celebrated 
Azara is the only authority we possess on the birds of 
liTJ"® volumes, in london, is about SQL ! an 
solute prohibition to their purchase. 
