142 
FRINGILLA CYANEA. 
ambition of those pseudo naturalists, who, without 
taking the trouble to make investigations, for which 
indeed they are perhaps incompetent, glory in proclaiming 
a new species established on a single individual, and 
merely on account of a spot, or some such trifling 
particular ! The leading systematists who have enlarged 
the boundaries of our science have too readily admitted 
such species, partly compelled to it perhaps by the 
deficiency of settled principles. But the more extensive 
and accurate knowledge which ornithologists have 
acquired within a few years relative to the changes 
that birds undergo, will render them more cautious, in 
proportion as the scientific world will be less disposed 
to excuse them for errors arising from this source. 
Linne may be profitably resorted to as a model of 
accuracy in this respect, his profound sagacity leading 
him in many instances to reject species which had 
received the sanction even of the experienced Brisson. 
Unfortunately Grnelin, who pursued a practice directly 
the opposite, and compiled with a careless and indis- 
criminating hand, has been the oracle of zoologists for 
twenty years. The thirteenth edition of the Sy sterna 
Natures undoubted^ retarded the advancement of 
knowledge instead of promoting it, and if Latham had 1 
erected his ornithological edifice on the chaste and 
durable Linnean basis, the superstructure would have 
been far more elegant. But he first misled Grnelin, 
and afterwards suffered himself to be misled by him, 
and was, therefore, necessarily betrayed into numerous 
errors, although he at the same time perceived and 
corrected many others of his predecessor. We shall 
not enumerate the nominal species authorised by their 
works in relation to the present bird, since they may 
be ascertained by consulting our list of synonyms. On 
comparing this list with that furnished by Wilson, it 
will be seen that the latter is very incomplete. Indeed, 
as regards synonym}^, Wilson’s work is not a little 
deficient ; notwithstanding which, however, it will be 
perpetuated as a monument of original and faithful 
