Audubon^ s Birds of America. 51 



So far, therefore, I consider his work as comparatively, one 

 of the cheapest that can be purchased. 



I have heard it mentioned, as an objection to the size of 

 the work, that the same object could have been accomplished 

 by bringing the subjects within the usual dimensions of illus- 

 trative publications ; or what the French happily call ouvrages 

 de luxe. This I deny. These plates do not exhibit a uni- 

 form " rivulet of margin," with a single bird perched upon 

 the tall leafless trunk of a tree, " signifying nothing," and 

 merely put in to fill the paper. Here every object speaks, 

 either to the senses or to the imagination. The examples 

 I have quoted, show that histories are to be narrated, and 

 peculiarities are to be explained. To trace such things, the 

 painter must have " ample room and verge enough." It is 

 this which elevates the character of his paintings, from mere 

 matter of fact portraits, to historical representations. We feel, 

 in short, that it is M. Audubon alone who can produce 

 a work, which, without such advantages as he possesses, not 

 all the united talents now in existence could supply. 



It will depend on the powerful and the wealthy, whether 

 Britain shall have the honour of fostering such a magnificent 

 undertaking. It will be a lasting monument, not only to 

 the memory of its author, but to those who employ their 

 wealth in patronising genius, and in supporting the national 

 credit. If any publication deserves such a distinction, it 

 is surely this ; in as much as it exhibits a perfection in 

 the higher attributes of zoological painting, never before 

 attempted. To represent the passions and the feelings of 

 birds, might, until now, have been well deemed chimerical. 

 Rarely, indeed, do we see their outward forms represented 

 with any thing like nature. In my estimation, not more 

 than three painters ever lived who could draw a bird. Of 

 these the lamented Barrabaud, of whom France may be 

 justly proud, was the chief. He has long passed away ; but 

 his mantle has, at length, been recovered in the forests of 

 America. 



On casting my eyes over the list of subscribers, it is 

 with gratified feelings that I see His Most Gracious Ma- 

 jesty at the head. From the fine and original taste which 

 our king seems intuitively to possess, I question whether 

 any of his subjects are better qualified to appreciate the 

 merits of M. Audubon. The number of nobility who have 

 followed the example of their sovereign, as yet, are few. 

 To the honour of the public bodies and libraries of Edin- 

 burgh, and of our own Universities, they all appear to have 

 stepped forward as subscribers ; waving their undoubted 



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