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{{rh|{{x-larger|308}}|{{x-larger|ORNITHOLOGY}}|[HISTORY}}{{EB1911 fine print/s}}
{{rh|{{x-larger|308  }}|{{x-larger|ORNITHOLOGY}}|[HISTORY}}
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octavo volumes (or parts, as they are called). Giebel's ''Thesaurus''
octavo volumes (or parts, as they are called). Giebel’s ''Thesaurus''
{{EB1911 Shoulder Heading|Giebel.}}
{{EB1911 Shoulder HeadingFine|Giebel.}}
''ornithologiae'', also in three volumes, published between
''ornithologiae'', also in three volumes, published between
1872 and 1877, is a slight advance, but both works have
1872 and 1877, is a slight advance, but both works have
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''Birds'', the twenty-seventh and final volume of which was published
''Birds'', the twenty-seventh and final volume of which was published
in 1895, and by the compact and invaluable British Museum
in 1895, and by the compact and invaluable British Museum
''Hand-List'', the four volumes of which were completed by Dr R. B. Sharpe
''Hand-List'', the four volumes of which were completed by Dr R. B. Sharpe
in 1903.
in 1903.
{{EB1911 fine print/e}}
{{EB1911 fine print/e}}

It may be convenient here to deal with the theory of the
It may be convenient here to deal with the theory of the
Quinary System, which was promulgated with great zeal by its
Quinary System, which was promulgated with great zeal by its
⚫
{{EB1911 Shoulder Heading|Quinary system.}}
upholders during the end of the first and early part of
upholders during the end of the first and early part of
the second quarter of the 19th century, and for some
the second quarter of the 19th century, and for some
years seemed likely to carry all before it. The success
years seemed likely to carry all before it. The success
it gained was doubtless due in some degree to the difficulty
it gained was doubtless due in some degree to the difficulty
⚫
{{EB1911 Shoulder HeadingSmall|Quinary system.}}
which most men had in comprehending it, for it was enwrapped
which most men had in comprehending it, for it was enwrapped
in alluring mystery, but more to the confidence with which it
in alluring mystery, but more to the confidence with which it
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A comparison of the relation of created beings to a number of
A comparison of the relation of created beings to a number of
intersecting circles is as old as the days of Nieremberg, who in
intersecting circles is as old as the days of Nieremberg, who in
1635 wrote (''Historia naturae'', lib. iii. cap. 3)—“Nullus hiatus est,
1635 wrote (''Historia naturae'', lib. iii. cap. 3)—“Nullus hiatus est,
nulla fractio, nulla dispersion formarum, invicem connexa sunt velut
nulla fractio, nulla dispersio formarum, invicem connexa sunt velut
annulus annulo”; but it is almost clear that he was thinking only
annulus annulo”; but it is almost clear that he was thinking only
of a chain. In 1806 Fischer de Waldheim, in his ''Tableaux''
of a chain. In 1806 Fischer de Waldheim, in his ''Tableaux''
''synoptiques de zoognosie'' (p. 181), quoting Nieremberg, extended his
''synoptiques de zoognosie'' (p. 181), quoting Nieremberg, extended his
figure of speech, and, while justly deprecating the notion that the
figure of speech, and, while justly deprecating the notion that the
series of forms belonging to any particular group of creatures—the
series of forms belonging to any particular group of creatures—the
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interconnexion of different animals, or that he attached any realistic
interconnexion of different animals, or that he attached any realistic
meaning to his metaphor, his words were eagerly caught up by the
meaning to his metaphor, his words were eagerly caught up by the
{{EB1911 Shoulder Heading|Macleay.}}
{{EB1911 Shoulder HeadingFine|Macleay.<br><br>Vigors.<br><br>Swainson.}}
prophet of the new faith. This was William Sharpe
prophet of the new faith. This was William Sharpe
Macleay, a man of education and real genius, who in
Macleay, a man of education and real genius, who in
1819 and 1821 brought out a work under the title of ''Horae Entomologicae'',
1819 and 1821 brought out a work under the title of ''Horae Entomologicae'',
which was soon after hailed by Vigors as containing a new
which was soon after hailed by Vigors as containing a new
{{EB1911 Shoulder Heading|Vigors.}}
revelation, and applied by him to ornithology in some
revelation, and applied by him to ornithology in some
“Observations on the Natural Affinities that connect the
“Observations on the Natural Affinities that connect the
Orders and Families of Birds,” read before the Linnean Society of
Orders and Families of Birds,” read before the Linnean Society of
London in 1823, and afterwards published in its ''Transactions'' (xiv.
London in 1823, and afterwards published in its ''Transactions'' (xiv.
pp. 395-517). In the following year Vigors returned to the subject
pp. 395-517). In the following year Vigors returned to the subject
in some papers published in the recently established ''Zoological''
in some papers published in the recently established ''Zoological''
''Journal'', and found an energetic con disciple and coadjutor in
''Journal'', and found an energetic condisciple and coadjutor in
{{EB1911 Shoulder Heading|Swainson.}}
Swainson, who, for more than a dozen years—to the
Swainson, who, for more than a dozen years—to the
end, in fact, of his career as an ornithological writer—was
end, in fact, of his career as an ornithological writer—was
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What these views were it would be manifestly improper for a sceptic
What these views were it would be manifestly improper for a sceptic
to state except in the terms of a believer. Their enunciation must
to state except in the terms of a believer. Their enunciation must
therefore be given in Swainson's own words, though it must be
therefore be given in Swainson’s own words, though it must be
admitted that space cannot be found here for the diagrams, which
admitted that space cannot be found here for the diagrams, which
it was alleged were necessary for the right understanding of the
it was alleged were necessary for the right understanding of the
theory. This theory, as originally propounded by Macleay, was said
theory. This theory, as originally propounded by Macleay, was said
by Swainson in 1835 (''Geogr. and Classific. of Animals'', p. 202) to
by Swainson in 1835 (''Geogr. and Classific. of Animals'', p. 202) to
have consisted of the following propositions:<ref>We prefer giving them here in Swainson's version, because he
have consisted of the following {{nowrap|propositions:<ref>We prefer giving them here in Swainson’s version, because he
seems to have set them forth more clearly and concisely than Macleay
seems to have set them forth more clearly and concisely than Macleay
ever did, and, moreover, Swainson's application of them to
ever did, and, moreover, Swainson’s application of them to
ornithology—a branch of science that lay outside of Macleay's
ornithology—a branch of science that lay outside of Macleay’s
proper studies—appears to be more suitable to the present
proper studies—appears to be more suitable to the present
occasion.
occasion.
</ref>—
</ref>—}}


“1. That the series of natural animals is continuous, forming,
“1. That the series of natural animals is continuous, forming,
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tendency if not the meaning of some of their own expressions: thus
tendency if not the meaning of some of their own expressions: thus
Macleay could write, and doubtless in perfect good faith (''Trans.''
Macleay could write, and doubtless in perfect good faith (''Trans.''
''Linn. Society'', xvi. p. 9, note), “Naturalists have nothing to do
''Linn. Society'', xvi. p. 9, note), “Naturalists have nothing to do
with mysticism, and but little with a priori reasoning.” Yet his
with mysticism, and but little with a priori reasoning.” Yet his
followers, if not he himself, were ever making use of language in
followers, if not he himself, were ever making use of language in
the highest degree metaphorical, and were always explaining facts
the highest degree metaphorical, and were always explaining facts
{{EB1911 Shoulder Heading|Fleming.}}
{{EB1911 Shoulder HeadingFine|Fleming.}}
in accordance with preconceived opinions. Fleming,
in accordance with preconceived opinions. Fleming,
already the author of a harmless and extremely orthodox
already the author of a harmless and extremely orthodox
''Philosophy of Zoology'', pointed out in 1829 in the ''Quarterly Review''
''Philosophy of Zoology'', pointed out in 1829 in the ''Quarterly Review''
(xli. pp. 302-327) some of the fallacies of Macleay's method, and in
(xli. pp. 302-327) some of the fallacies of Macleay’s method, and in
return provoked from him a reply, in the form of a letter addressed
return provoked from him a reply, in the form of a letter addressed
to Vigors ''On the Dying Struggle of the Dichotomous System'', couched
to Vigors ''On the Dying Struggle of the Dichotomous System'', couched
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ourselves to what is here our special business, it is to be remarked
ourselves to what is here our special business, it is to be remarked
that perhaps the heaviest blow dealt at these strange doctrines was
that perhaps the heaviest blow dealt at these strange doctrines was
that delivered by Rennie, who, in an edition of Montagu's ''Ornithological''
that delivered by Rennie, who, in an edition of Montagu’s ''Ornithological''
''Dictionary'' (pp. xxxiii.-lv.), published in 1831 and again
''Dictionary'' (pp. xxxiii.-lv.), published in 1831 and again
issued in 1833, attacked the Quinary System, and especially its
issued in 1833, attacked the Quinary System, and especially its
application to ornithology by Vigors and Swainson, in a way that
application to ornithology by Vigors and Swainson, in a way that
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''Cyclopaedia''—among others that from which we have just given some
''Cyclopaedia''—among others that from which we have just given some
extracts—and in what may be deemed the culmination in England of
extracts—and in what may be deemed the culmination in England of
the Quinary System, the volume of the “Naturalist's Library” on
the Quinary System, the volume of the “Naturalist’s Library” on
''The Natural Arrangement and History of Flycatchers'', published in
''The Natural Arrangement and History of Flycatchers'', published in
1838, of which unhappy performance mention has already been
1838, of which unhappy performance mention has already been
made in this present work ({{EB1911 article link|nosc=x|vol. x. p. 584, note|Flycatcher}}). This seems to
made in this present work ({{EB1911 lkpl|Flycatcher|vol. x. p. 584, note}}). This seems to
have been his last attempt; for, two years later, his ''Bibliography''
have been his last attempt; for, two years later, his ''Bibliography''
''of Zoology'' shows little trace of his favourite theory, though nothing
''of Zoology'' shows little trace of his favourite theory, though nothing
he had uttered in its support was retracted. Appearing almost
he had uttered in its support was retracted. Appearing almost
simultaneously with this work, an article by Strickland (''Mag. Nat.''
simultaneously with this work, an article by Strickland (''Mag. Nat.''
{{EB1911 Shoulder Heading|Strickland.}}
{{EB1911 Shoulder HeadingFine|Strickland.}}
''History'', ser. 2, iv. pp. 219-226) entitled ''Observations upon''
''History'', ser. 2, iv. pp. 219-226) entitled ''Observations upon''
''the Affinities and Analogies of Organized Beings'' administered
''the Affinities and Analogies of Organized Beings'' administered
to the theory a shock from which it never recovered,
to the theory a shock from which it never recovered,
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ornithologists who had embraced Quinary principles, was by mistaken
ornithologists who had embraced Quinary principles, was by mistaken
kindness allowed to publish Monographs of the Birds-of-Prey
kindness allowed to publish Monographs of the Birds-of-Prey
(Jardine's ''Contributions to Ornithology'', 1849, pp. 68-75, 96-121;
(Jardine’s ''Contributions to Ornithology'', 1849, pp. 68-75, 96-121;
1850, pp. 51-80; 1851, pp. 119-130; 1852, pp. 103-122; and
1850, pp. 51-80; 1851, pp. 119-130; 1852, pp. 103-122; and
''Trans. Zool. Society'', iv. pp. 201-260), in which its absurdity reached
''Trans. Zool. Society'', iv. pp. 201-260), in which its absurdity reached
the climax.
the climax.


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