Queries and Answers. 283 



always famed for his bold feats of daring and for the strictest ve- 

 racity I do not hesitate in believing he performed the exploits 

 described in his Wanderings. At the same time, though 

 crediting the narrative of his adventures, I cannot refrain 

 adding, that the figure in the frontispiece of the Wanderings 

 has put this belief not a little to the test. Having looked 

 at it over and over again, I cannot discover what animal it is 

 intended to represent. In its face and head, it resembles 

 the human ; but unless it belong to a new species of Homo, 

 or be" a hybrid between Homo and *Simia, I am at a loss under 

 what class of animals to arrange it. I hope it will not turn 

 out to be a new species of i^omo; as then his majesty's 

 attorney-general, in Demerara, may have something un- 

 pleasant to say to Mr. Waterton, for putting out of the way 

 one of his majesty's subjects in rather too sudden a manner. 

 Should, however, these suppositions prove unconfirmed, it is 

 not improbable, from the well known ability of Mr. Water- 

 ton, he may have moulded some poor monkey's visage into 

 the face divine. All who have visited Walton Hall, and 

 looked over the beautiful collection of stuffed birds, which 

 Mr. Waterton, in the kindest manner, suffers all to s*le, can 

 bear testimony to his skill as a naturalist; and also, with what 

 Promethean art the learned proprietor can, by his magical 

 hand, give as it were to these lifeless feathered bodies, life and 

 being. Whichever of these suppositions be correct, many of the 

 readers of Mr. Waterton's Wanderings solicit his further ex- 

 planation of the frontispiece ; and, from a hint that he throws 

 out in the work, " that on some long and dismal winter's 

 evening the reader is to have more satisfaction respecting this 

 curious-headed creature;" I hope Mr. Waterton will not wait 

 the coming of winter, but seize some sweet summer's evening, 

 when all the landscape is sun-gilt, and glittering in the rays of 

 the setting sun ; and when, instead of rude Boreas's blast, his 

 ears will be serenaded with the melody of the sweet songsters 

 of the grove. — James Stuart Menteath. Closeburn Hall, 

 June 16. 1832. 



The Literary Remains of the celebrated Bewick. — Mr. 

 Dovaston's answer (Vol, III. p. 191.) to Mr. Bree's query 

 (Vol. III. p. 92.) is satisfactory, so far as communicating the 

 pleasing fact, that the history of British fishes, with engravings, 

 and a memoir of his life, were left; but he does not allude to 

 the probable period of their publication. I perceive, by a 

 memorandum I made at the end of my copy of the British 

 Birds, that Bewick died the 8th November, 1828, nearly four 

 years and a half ago. Being an ardent admirer of Bewick, 

 I am most desirous of knowing when these works are likely to 

 be published ; and shall feel greatly obliged, no doubt in 



