correct the inaccuracies referred to, they are still highly detrimental as existing in a book to which reference is necessarily so frequently made by his disciples in their hours of private study.

None are more highly sensible than ourselves, of the value of Mr Stewart's volumes, and it is indeed that knowledge which renders us the more anxious to point out their faults, as the danger resulting from these is rather increased than diminished by the general excellence of the work itself.

For the present, however, we must confine our remarks to a single department; and as ornithology is one of the most interesting and popular branches of British zoology, we shall rest satisfied with pointing out a few of the discoveries which have either been effected, or rendered more clear and determinate in that science, since the publication of the first edition of Mr Stewart's work in 1801 and 1802. In doing this, we shall follow the order of arrangement adopted by Mr Stewart himself, and shall chiefly particularize those species, concerning which any confusion exists in the work under review, which are at the same time native to Britain.

Genus Vultur.—It was alleged by the early voyagers, that the condor measured 18 feet from tip to tip of the wings; and this extreme extent is given by Mr Stewart. Its size, however, has no doubt been much exaggerated. The first specimen ever brought to Europe was, the female bird deposited in the Leverian Museum by Captain Middleton; and within a short period, a male bird was procured and placed in the same collection. The latter was very large; and when recently killed, the wings are said to have extended 12 feet from tip to tip. It was indeed alleged by some to have measured 14 feet in extent, but this was generally considered as a mistake. In the 18th volume of the Philosophical Transactions, mention is made of a bird, probably of the same species, native of Chili, which is said to have measured 16 feet from tip to tip of the wings. Naturalists, however, cannot be too guarded in admitting the accounts of mariners, which experience has shewn are frequently much exaggerated. Unaccustomed objects beheld under all the fascina

tions of a tropical climate, and procured, in the course of some wild and rapid excursion through the most sublime region of the world, even where there is no intention to deceive, produce an effect upon the mind of the beholder very different from that which would result from a calm and unimpassioned contemplation. We have conversed with men who had seen alligators 60 feet long, and to whom the narratives of Marco Paulo, concerning the famous birds in the island of Madagascar, which were in the habit of flying into the air with elephants in their claws, that they might dash them to pieces on the rocks below, did not appear by any means so improbable as to be deemed entirely fabulous.

With regard to the bird in question, however, we have pretty positive proof in the writings of Humboldt, that its earlier histories by D'Acosta, Garcilasso, and others, were much exaggerated. That naturalist admits that they may occasionally attain the great size of 11 or 12 feet from tip to tip of the extended wings; but such as he himself had an opportunity of examining never exceeded 3 feet 3 inches in length, with a breadth, from tip to tip of the wings, of 8 feet 9 inches.

Prior to the time of Humboldt, one of the largest condors, of which the measurements were taken from the bird in a recent state, was that shot by Feuillée, in the valley of Ilo in Peru. The wings, when expanded, measured exactly 11 feet 4 inches, from tip to tip; and the French foot being equal to 13 of our inches, the breadth of this bird must have been about 12 feet 3 inches. This is probably the largest. bird of which the measurements are recorded, as taken by a person accus tomed to scientific accuracy; and as the proportions of the specimen formerly in the Leverian Museum, but now unfortunately removed to the Cabinet of Vienna, in consequence of the dispersion of that ill-fated collection, seem to have been doubted by Dr Shaw, it may be considered as the largest individual on the description of which we can rely, and probably approaches the utmost limits which can reasonably be assigned to the growth of this formidable species.

Various opinions have been formed regarding the geographical distribution

of this bird. It has generally been considered as characteristic of the wild and mountainous districts of South *America. Humboldt says it inhabits the lofty rocks of the Andes, immediately below the boundaries of perpetual snow.

Buffon, whose ideas were frequently more fanciful than correct, deemed it scarcely possible that a bird, claiming the highest rank among the feathered creation, should be confined to a single region of the earth. In the "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux," he enters into a long detail upon the subject, the object of which is to prove, that the birds of prey mentioned by Gesner as inhabiting the neighbourhood of Tarnasser in the East Indies, of the bills of which the hilts of swords were fabricated-the vultures of Senegal which carry off children-and the Lammer-geyer of Switzerland, are all referable to a species synonimous with the condor of Peru. To that species he also refers the great bird mentioned in the South Sea voyages-the famous Roc of the eastern writers,and the large bird of prey found in Russian Lapland, as described both by Regnard and La Martiniere, and of the nest of which a drawing is given by Olaus Magnus.

In this view, therefore, the condor, so far from being confined to the still regions of the Andes, has a geographical distribution more general and extensive than any other known species, being found in almost every region of the old world, from the most northern parts of Scandinavia, across the burning sands of Africa, to the island of Madagascar; and from the glaciers of the Rhone and the Arveron to the glowing banks of the Indus; and from thence to the mountains of Chili and Peru. We need scarcely add, that the opinion of the eloquent Frenchman is without any foundation in truth. The condor of America is the same as the Vultur gryphus of Linnæus, the Lammer-geyer of the German writers is the V. barbatus of the Swedish naturalist, and the Senegal vulture is a species perfectly distinct from either. As these three are the only species out of those he has enumerated, of the existence of which we have any rational proof, it is unnecessary to say any thing of the others, as that would only be combating the phantoms of an enthusiastic imagination.

The opinion of Buffon, originally adopted under some false impression, that the Lammer-geyer of the Alps should be considered synonimous with the condor of Peru, was no doubt powerfully strengthened by the sentiments of MM. Valmont de Bomare and De Salerne. As this point is of some importance in determining the specific relations of one of the most singular birds of the old world, our readers will pardon us for entering into a very brief examination of the matter.

M. V. de Bomare's chief reason for considering these birds as synonimous is, that they have both a breadth of 14 feet. We have already shewn, that the claims of the Peruvian bird to such a measurement are at the best of a doubtful kind. In regard to the Lammer-geyer, however, we are fortunately enabled to speak with greater certainty. It has, assuredly, sadly degenerated from the time of M. de Bomare, as its usual breadth is now only from 74 feet to 8 feet. It no doubt still makes " une guerre cruelle aux chèvres, aux brebis, aux chamois, aux lievres, et aux marmottes;" but these unamiable traits of character are likewise daily exhibited in equal perfection by the ravenous eagle.

It

But M. de Salerne relates a fact (using the word in its ordinary acceptation) which is considered as sufficiently decisive on the subject. appears, that in the year 1719, M. Deradin, who was father-in-law to M. du Lac, shot, at his Chateau of Mylourdin, a strange bird, which measured 18 feet (French feet) from tip to tip of the wings. This bird, it seems, was— -What? carefully described upon the spot, and a coloured drawing sent to the Royal Academy? No-This bird was eaten by the family at Mylourdin aforesaid, as well as by the natives of the Chatean Neufsur-loire; it was found to be somewhat tough, and its flesh had rather a marshy smell. But, adds M. de Salerne, I saw and examined one of the smallest feathers of the wing, and it was larger than the largest feather of a swan; and therefore," cet oiseau singulier sembleroit être le contur ou condor." This may be a most legitimate conclusion; but we are still of opinion, that though an entire feather, after having been both seen and ex

amined, should be found to exceed the largest feather of the largest swan in the country, that circumstance was not sufficient to convert a Lammergeyer into a condor 18 feet in breadth. It is indeed surprising, that Buffon should have placed confidence in such a vague and contradictory story. Is it probable, that a bird of such extraordinary dimensions would have excited no other feeling than the culinary interest recorded by M. de Salerne? or that out of its 18 feet of plumage, no vestige should remain to be "seen and examined," except one of the least of its quill feathers. We scarcely remember a finer example of reasoning ex pede Herculem than this affords; and we doubt whether Cuvier himself, in the very spring-tide of generalization, would not have been somewhat puzzled by it. The thing carries contradiction in its very front; but it was a fact which chimed harmoniously with the wild theory of the Count, and as such it was recorded.

Of this genus there is no British species. The Falco albicilla, or whitetailed eagle, was placed by Linnæus with the vultures, owing to a fancied agreement in the form of the bill; but that arrangement was injudicious, and has not been adopted.

The genus which next demands our attention, is that termed Falco, which includes the tribes of eagles, falcons, hawks, buzzards, and kites.

Since the publication of Mr Stewart's work, the "Regne Animal" of Cuvier has reached this country. It appears, from the observations of that naturalist, that the F. albicilla and F. ossifragus are specifically the same, the latter being in the plumage of immaturity. He likewise observes, that the F. albicaudus, or lesser white-tailed eagle, is the male of the F. albicilla; so that these three species should henceforth be considered as synonimous. These

facts are said to have been ascertained more than once in the Menagerie of the Parisian Museum.

The F. gentilis still finds a place in Mr Stewart's Elements. There is no doubt, however, that that species, as generally described, is merely the young of the goshawk. We were surprised to find that Mr S. has continued the F. cyaneus and F. pygargus as distinct species, notwithstanding the positive proof which Montagu had afforded to the contrary. That excel

lent ornithologist, by rearing the young birds taken from the same nest, ascertained that the F. cyaneus, or henharrier, and the F. pygargus, or ringtail, were male and female of the same species. Both sexes, in a state of immaturity, bear the plumage of the female.

The merlin, Mr S. remarks, does not breed in England, but migrates, and returns again in October. We are able to state, however, that its nest has been frequently taken in the north of England. They usually build on the ground, or in a low furze bush. We have observed the merlin in Scotland during the summer season, and presume it breeds in this country also.

In the genus Strix, among other species, Mr S. enumerates the S. ulula, S. stridula, and S. aluco. The early synonyms of these species are very obscure, and great uncertainty prevails regarding their history in all ornithological works. We are of opinion, that the two former should be considered as the Brown and Tawny Owls of English naturalists; and as we have taken these from the same nest, no doubt can be entertained of their being the same species. Indeed, a similar fact was recorded by Montagu many years ago. The plumage in the English species is brown, but in the former there is a gray, and in the latter a ferruginous tinge. They are not, however, as Shaw and others have supposed, to be considered as male and female, as the one is merely an accidental variety of the other; and the ferruginous or tawny owl being the more common, should be looked upon as the standard species. Now, as the Linnæan species agree with those just mentioned, and bear a similar relation to each other, it is probable that they should be considered as also synoni

mous.

We are likewise of opinion, that the S. aluco has no just claim to specific distinction. In common with the preceding species, it is referable to the S. stridula, or tawny owl. There are many contradictory references concerning it, which seem chiefly to result from the general supposition, that the last mentioned species is distinct from the brown owl of Pennant. The Aluco owl, as originally described, seems to bear a great resemblance to the graycoloured variety of the common species; and when we observe that it is also found

in the ferrugious plumage of the tawny owl, or characteristic variety, there remains no adequate reason for supposing it distinct. On examination, we have found satisfactory evidence of this variation. In the late edition of Buffon, by Sonnini, the Aluco owl is described as characterised by a ferruginous tinge; and a similar observation is made by Daudin, in his ornithology.

As nothing material occurs to us to remark in the remaining genus of accipitrine birds, or in any of the genera of the six succeeding orders, many of which are almost exclusively composed of foreign species, we shall pass to the Gralla, or eighth order of the system. Several important observations have been made in the natural history of this numerous tribe, since the publication of the first edition of Mr Stewart's work, chiefly through the labours of the late Colonel Montagu, who did much to elucidate the ornithology of Great Britain.

The Ardea cinerea of Linnæus is the female, not a variety, as Mr S. supposes, of the Ardea major, or common heron. In 1805, Montagu ascertained, that the little white heron (Ardea equinoctialis), was a visitant of Britain. The specimen in his collection was shot on the most southern promontory of Devonshire, near the coast. The same author, in his supplement, memtions the occurrence of an apparently nondescript species, which he has named the freckled heron (Ardea lentiginosa). This bird was shot in Dorsetshire, in 1804. It is most probably the female of some species already known as native to Europe, of which the sexual distinctions are undescribed. Besides these, several other rare species have been found in Britain, viz. the Gardenian heron (A. gardeni), the African heron (A. caspica), the night heron (A. nycticorax and grisea), and the Sguacco heron (A. comata.)

Since the first publication of Mr Stewart's work, the Pigmy Curlew, one of the rarest of European birds, has been shot in England. It is preserved in the Liverpool Museum; and after an accurate inspection of the specimen, we feel perfectly of Montagu's opinion, that it is not a Numenius, but a Tringa. Its discoverer was probably misled by the slight arcuation of the bill, which, however, is not more deflected than in

some other species of sandpiper. In succeeding systems it should therefore be distinguished by the name of Tringa pigmea.

There is a species described by Pennant and Latham, under the name of Brown Snipe, found in their time only on the coast of New York. A bird in the collection of Montagu so greatly resembles the description given by these authors, that there is little doubt of its being the same species. It was shot on the coast of Devonshire in the month of October. The Red-breasted Snipe (Scolopax noveboracencis), is a rare species, of which several are recorded as having been shot in Britain. The most recent instances of this kind, of which we are aware, are the two birds procured by Mr Foljambe in 1812. Mr Stewart describes a bird called the Dunlin, under the name of Scolopax pusilla. We are at a loss regarding the species, as there is great confusion in the references made to it in the ornithological works to which we at present have access. Is the S. pusilla distinct from the Tringa alpina of Lin.?

Mr S. has continued the Jadreka snipe (S. limosa), and the Red Godwit (S. lapponica), as distinct species. Montagu received a specimen from Lord Stanley, which is in a state of plumage intermediate between these two species, and which, when considered along with those circumstances which had formerly caused some doubts as to their specific distinction, satisfactorily proves that they are really the same. The Cambridge Godwit (S. cantabrigiensis), given by Mr S. as a distinct species, is considered by the other ornithologists of the day as merely the young of the Red-shank (S. calidris.)

As we have already exceeded the limits which have been necessarily assigned to this article, we must delay our farther observations until next month.

Modern Greece. A Poem. 8vo. London, Murray, 1817.

In our reviews of poetical productions, the better efforts of genius hold out to us a task at once more useful and delightful than those of inferior merit. In the former, the beauties predominate, and expose while

they excuse the blemishes. But the public taste would receive no benefit from a detail of mediocrity, relieved only by the censure of faults uncompensated by excellencies. We have great pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to the beautiful poem before us, which we believe to be the work of the same lady who last year put her name to the second edition of another poem on a kindred subject, "The Restoration of the Works of Art to Italy," namely, Mrs Hemans of North Wales. That the author's fame has not altogether kept pace with her merit, we are inclined to think is a reproach to the public. Poetry is at present experiencing the fickleness of fashion, and may be said to have had its day. Very recently, the reading public, as the phrase is, was immersed in poetry; but seems to have had enough; and excepting always that portion of it who are found to relish genuine poetry on its own intrinsic account, and will never tire of the exquisite enjoyment which it affords, the said public seldom read poetry at all.

It was very natural for poets in their finer sympathies, to be lured into the mistake that, like themselves," the million" loved "music, image, sentiment, and thought,' with a love never to die." They did not observe that the attachment was greatly too sudden to give reasonable hopes of constancy. For more than two hundred years the best poetry in Europe was to be found in our own country; yet a very small portion of the educated classes seems ever to have taken any warm interest in these treasures. How few have read Chaucer or Spencer, or studied Shakspeare, except in the theatre. Upon what multitudes has Milton thrown away his lofty strain,-Dryden his fire,-Pope his exquisite polish,-Thomson his music and grace,—and his exquisite and impassioned descriptions of nature. Poetical excellence addresses itself to higher tastes and finer sensibilities than are bestowed on the bulk of mankind; and to all who are not so endowed, it is a very tiresome sort of pastime.

An era however approached. "The Lay" converted thousands, and "Marmion" tens of thousands, and the whole world read poetry. Had Mr Scott given out the same quantity of poetical thoughts and images, in poems constructed like "The Task," or "The

Pleasures of Hope," his readers would not have numbered one for a hundred; yet the accessary ninety-nine, attracted by the seductive form in which he has actually appeared, firmly believe that they have all been regularly imbued with a taste for genuine poetry. The whole secret is, that Mr Scott gave to the world a series of brilliant romances, and turned into this newmade channel all who ever in their lives read and relished fictitious compositions. All the poets, good and bad, forthwith wrote metrical romancesfrom the time of Gertrude of Wyoming to that of Lalla Rookh; and to the exhibition of human passion and action in well-conceived plots and catastrophes, more than to any change in their mere poetry, is to be imputed that powerful stimulus which several of the masters of the present day have succeeded in applying to the formerlyrather-languid feelings of the public. There needs not the fine imagery, the exquisite metaphors, the delightful allusions, of genuine poetry to do this. There is no want of excitability in the multitude, by pathos skilfully administered;-the electrical effects of sympathy in the theatre prove it: but these emotions are not imputable necessarily to the poetical form in which the popular sentiments are conveyed. A justly admired author has lately shewn, that this can be done in a very powerful manner in a prose narrative. It is impossible to work such effects by mere song, with all its imagery and all its eloquence.

But so little is that excitement which the bulk of readers covet necessarily connected with poetry, that these readers have tired even of romances in a metrical form, and are regarding all their late rythmical favourites alike, with that sort of ingratitude with which repletion would lead them to regard a banquet when the dishes are removing from the table. But this is no proof that these great poets have forfeited their title to be admired. They are fixed orbs, which stand just where they did, and shine just as they were wont, although they seem to decline to the world which revolves the opposite way. But if the world will turn from the poet, whatever be his merit, there is an end of his popularity, inasmuch as the most approved conductor of the latter is the multitude, as essentially as is the air of the