inbf^rsed dekiriptioiis of Anu rican scenery' and 'inafiifefgi 

 Gloomy forests, tanglc?d ,caneJ)rakc's, dismal swamps, immense 

 <pi-«litlfes, 'irtajestid riv<?r«i floods, tornadoes, ami earthquakes 5';tH* 

 migrations of the white men, the retreat of the red ; the charac- 

 'Mk and pursuits of the back wood's-men ; the exteiwive inland 

 Hafvigations, and other subjects, form the materials of these in- 

 H^tructiveand amusing sketches. Surely, if omithblogy so treated 

 does not €x:cite as much interest as a novel or a romance^dl must 

 be owing to the utter perversity of the human racci^^i^^Nio fiiod 

 fJjvThe greatest objection to a work like the^^^' Bird^ of' ;Am^ 

 fica"'"' is, that, on account of its great price, it can be seen and 

 examined by few students of nature. But surely nature de^ 

 serves a monument like this, which will remain a model for the 

 imitation of her admirers. To complete the work for which he 

 has been destined, its author intimates his intention of laying 

 before the world a systematic and methodical account of all the 

 birds of the United States. The observations of a whole life of 

 unremitted labour ought not to be lost to the world ; and their 

 essence will form a worthy companion to the Manual of the 

 Ornithology of Europe by the celebrated Temminck. Thegtudy 

 of the habits of birds is as likely to throw light on their natural 

 affinities as is that of their forms and structure ; and with a 

 knowledge of both, our author will confer the greatest benefit 

 on science by promulgating his ideas on classification. 



In the descriptive work vvhich he has alroady published, thene 

 is contained a mass of facts which must be highly usefuLto the 

 ornithologist, as being the result of personal observation under 

 circumstances singularly favourable. It, moreover, contains 

 sixteen species not before described. Perhaps a httle more me- 

 thod in the arrangement of the details, in the subsequent volumes, 

 might render them more easily consulted. i 



^^ Interesting as the birds of America, or of any other portiop 

 ^<jif the globe,' must prove to the ornithologist of all countrie;, 

 When ti-eated in the manner exhibited by the splendid works 

 which have furnished the subject of the above remarks ; still 

 more so to the Bifitish ornithologist would be those of hisfown 

 country. It is true we have already a large, if not a splendi4 

 work, from the pencil of Mr Selby ; but, against that; work wjght 

 be urged the objection that has been made to Mr Audubon'*s, 



Y 2 



