190 Literary Notices. 



Art. V. Literary Notices. 



Gould, John, A.LS., Author o^ Illicstrations in Ornithology 

 from the Himalaya Mountains, is about to publish an entirely 

 new work on the birds of Europe. The author, by his prospec- 

 tus before us, considers that the birds of Europe have been less 

 illustrated, and are proportionally less known, than the birds 

 of other parts of the world. He proposes that his work shall 

 fill up this inequality, and gives the following sketch of his 

 means and terms : — 



" Eight years almost exclusively devoted to ornithology, 

 more particularly that of Great Britain ; extensive acquaint- 

 ance and constant communication with the most celebrated 

 cultivators of this branch of natural history; and resources in 

 art beyond those which have already given such universal 

 satisfaction, insure to the author advantages of no common 

 extent. Assisted by experienced collectors at all the most 

 favourable localities, it is intended that the artists employed 

 on this work shall have, as far as possible, a constant supply 

 of living, or very recently killed birds; thus insuring a degree 

 of truth both of character and colouring, which museum spe- 

 cimens, however well preserved, can never supply. All the 

 interesting periodical changes of plumage will be particularly 

 illustrated ; and the author hopes to secure for this arduous 

 undertaking that degree of support which its merits and exe- 

 cution will be found to deserve. 



" The work will be published in parts, one of which will 

 appear every three months. The first part will be ready on 

 the 1st of June, 1832; and each succeeding part on the first 

 day of every third month afterwards, till the whole is com- 

 pleted. 



" Each part to contain twenty plates (their size the imperial 

 folio), fifteen of which will be devoted to the representation of 

 British birds, and ^so, to those of the European continent. 

 The price of each part to subscribers will be 3/., to be paid 

 for on delivery. 



" Subscribers desirous of possessing the British birds only, 

 are requested to signify their wishes ; and the author, con- 

 fidently anticipating the support of all the subscribers to the 

 completion of the work, pledges himself, in that case, to a 

 regular and equally perfect performance throughout. 



" Only 300 copies will be printed off; and the work when 

 complete will form two interesting and handsome volumes of 

 the land and water birds of Europe. Portions of letterpress, 

 forming together a history of the subjects of the plates, and 

 minutely detailing the habits and manners of all the species. 



