AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. WILSON. 257 
discoverers of many species. The land birds of New 
Zealand and of the Pacific Islands, appear to be few, 
but they are different, in regard to the species, from ♦ 
those of New Holland, although in general belonging 
to the same groups. The Meliphagifke, or honeysuckers, 
are very prevalent through the whole range of this 
zoological province. 
(215.) America, next to Europe, is the best known 
division of the zoological world. The ornithology of the 
northern regions has been so well explored by our arctic 
navigators, those two able collectors, and by Drummond 
and Douglass, that little has been left for those who came 
after ; while the indefatigable M’ilson secured to him- 
self the first and highest honours of discovery in regard 
to the birds of the United States. Little, therefore, now 
remains to be done in the way of new discovery from 
Baffin’s Bay to the shores of Louisiana. AVhile the 
ornithologist may purchase specimens of the North 
American birds much cheaper in London than he could 
collect them upon the spot. The western coast, on the 
contrary, by some strange oversight, has been almost 
entirely neglected, and California still remains unex- 
plored by modem naturalists. The first English ad- 
venturers to Mexico, upon its being opened to British 
commerce, were not unmindful of its natural produc- 
tions ; and wc were enabled to determine the existence 
of near 150 species of Mexican birds, the greater part 
of which were altogether new. Continental collectors 
have since then visited many of the provinces, yet, 
when we consider the vast extent of this territory, 
and the peculiarly favourable nature of its surface for 
great diversity in its animals, we may yet believe that 
not more than half of its birds have been discovered. 
It is surprising that among so many intelligent persons 
connected with our unfortunate mining establishments, 
one instance alone has come before us of any of them 
paying attention to natural history. The late Mr. 
Morgan formed a valuable collection of birds round 
Real del Monte, but we have heard of no other English- 
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