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[Page 2]
and this has increased on me more than I at first intended, by having spent more time on particular specimens, but chiefly from having come to a determination to make notes of the birds previous to putting them in boxes, which has been attended with a great loss of time. I can hardly tell what has possessed me to do this, unless it is in thinking that some birds are placed in genera they are in no measure related to. But for me to dispute the opinion of our great ornithologists perhaps may be deemed a piece of vanity, by being very young in the business, & by having no opportunity to avail myself of the advantage of libraries. Errors often times long remain from the reputation of authors, and perhaps this may be a curb to restrain novices within due bounds, and to prevent them from creating farther mischief. But as it is my intention to prefix names to some of my birds, and from not knowing what are already published, I shall point out one, among the errors I think want correcting. What I am told is the Coracias strefrera, and Coracias orientalis, both natives of N.S. Wales, I think differ as widely in generic characters as any bird whatever. According to the present state of ornithology, the first I should refer to the genus Correus, but respecting the latter, perhaps I may create surprise, and may be retracted on, when I say that if I was to form a system of my own I should place in the Hirundonaceous family. This I must admit, that characters of the feathered tribe appear to me more difficult to catch than those of plants, and perhaps may be less constant - yet every family undoubtedly possesses some peculiar characteristic mark, though like the channel of a river it may be hid from our sight and to conclude so may perhaps remin remain to a far distant posterity before a system of ornithology is brought forth equal to the best improved present system of botany.
I remain most respectfully
your most obedient
and humble servant
George Caley