REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
161 
vf British birds and their eggs. By Henry Doubleday. Dondon: Westley and 
Davis. 18S6. 
It appears to be becoming the fashion now-a-days to publish lists of British 
birds, and it certainly cannot be doubted that the object in so doing is a laudable 
one. But while we admit the use—nay, the importance—of such catalogues, at 
a time when almost every individual, however slight his claims to the title of a 
naturalist, deems it requisite to possess a collection, more or less extensive, of 
native birds, it is at the same time desirable that they should be carefully executed. 
Now, we rejoice to observe the spread of our favourite science, in whatever way 
manifested, and are therefore disposed to encorage the young naturalist in 
collecting specimens for the cabinet, provided always that he has in view the 
true end of the study of Natural History. We should wish him to classify his 
specimens, as soon as a sufficient number is obtained, according to the most ap¬ 
proved system. But who, the young student may inquire, is to inform us, 
amidst the conflicting theories of the day, which is really the best classifica¬ 
tion ? While some arrange the whole animal kingdom in one straight line —others 
dispose their groups in circles —a third party declares both those methods to be 
forced and unnatural, and pronounces the radiating system to be the true system 
of Nature—and, amidst the array of fects and reasoning on each side, what am I, 
a mere tyro in the subject, to do ? or how am I to classify my little museum ? 
We should answer these questions by observing that the, cheapest and readiest 
mode of removing the difficulty, would be to publish a good systematic list of 
British birds, with a view of labels for cabinets. Three of these have already 
appeared before the public. The first has, we are well aware, proved highly 
useful to many collectors; but as it is out of print, or nearly so, and as the 
author has no intention of republishing it, we need not here further advert to 
it. The merits and defects of the second, by Mr. C, T. Wood, we pointed out at 
p. 50 of our present volume; and the third is now under notice. Mr. Double¬ 
day, well known for the zeal with which he cultivates Ornithology, has followed 
the classification and nomenclature of Jenyns. The pamphlet appears to have 
been carefully compiled, and will, therefore, doubtless, form a useful guide to many; 
but we decidedly object to the loose method adopted in the English department. 
Many of our readers will be aware that we advocate the plan of giving an English 
generic and specific name to each bird, thus rendering the English nomenclature as 
perfect as the Latin, and consequently rendering the science more easily attained, 
and less dependent on hard and often foolish terms; and in this view we are sup¬ 
ported by many able naturalists. The practicability of carrying the plan into 
execution has been proved by the publication of the Ornithological Guide^ and 
its expediency will, we trust, be one day generally acknowledged. 
