94 
REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
A History of British Birds , Indigenous and Migratory; including their 
Organization, Habits, and Relations; Remarks on Classification and Nomencla¬ 
ture ; an Account of the principal Organs of Birds; and Observations relative 
to Practical Ornithology. Illustrated by numerous Engravings. By William 
MacGillivray, A.M., F.R.S.E., M.W.S., &c. &c. &c. Vol. II., Cantatores , 
Singers. London: Scott , Webster, and Geary. 1839. 8vo. pp. 496. 
Mr. MacGillivray’s first volume has been reviewed in The Naturalist , Vol. 
II., p. 279; and we were sufficiently well pleased on the whole with his com¬ 
mencement, to feel considerable interest respecting the continuation. The 
following pages will contain such remarks, criticisms, and extracts as, on a careful 
perusal, it has appeared to us requisite to make. 
The occasional unnecessary digressions of the author, with the view of enditing 
not very friendly strictures on brother naturalists, have been noticed by more 
than one estimable writer. A similar fault sullies the present volume. Thus in 
the Preface, p. ii., it is inquired, who that has observed the noble Eagle in his 
native haunts, could commence a description of that noble bird in the 44 plain 
didactic style.” Now this, of course, is intended as a home-thrust at Mr. Selby ; 
but its unfairness must at once strike all readers. For let it be remembered that 
the limits of a manual for students are necessarily very confined; and that 
subscribers would little thank the author for launching out into a florid, poetical, 
or sentimental account of his feelings as created by his reminiscences of each 
individual species. There are few who will not admire the style of Audubon 
and Wilson, in their splendid works on the birds of America; but a student's 
text-book, or 44 hand-book,” being intended to impart merely the most important 
heads of a science, in the smallest] possible space consistent with perspicuity, 
should, we opine, be written in plain language. 
Let the author speak for himself respecting the objects of his History :—- 
“ To the adepts in ornithological lore 1 have little to say. I presume not to instruct you, 
cannot hope to amuse you, and am destitute of ambition of in any way pleasing you. No 
man can more admire your ingenuity than I, or be more sensible to your merits, more grate¬ 
ful for your good intentions, or more ready to receive your instructions; but the Book of 
Nature is open to me as it is to you, and I will try to read it without your guidance. To the 
lovers of living nature, my friends and fellow-students, I would say: let us go together, 
imparting and receiving knowledge. You who have but commenced your journey, and 
whom 1 may without presumption consider as pupils, I am persuaded may with some 
advantage listen to ray advice; and from you who have observed more carefully, and com¬ 
pared more strictly, the objects of our mutual regard, I may learn much that will interest 
me. To all those who, from whatever motive, may be pleased to peruse this work, 1 can 
only say that in it they will find nothing but what I believe to be correct; but there are 
