82 



THE FEATHERED TRIBES OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.* 



That decided predeliction for the study of Natural History, which, 

 happily for the cause of religion and morality, has heen gradually maturing 

 in all ranks of society, from the titled zoologist to the humble artisan 

 who profitably devotes his hours of cessation from toil to an inquiry into 

 the familiar but wonderful productions of the Deity, has latterly increased 

 the demand for explanatory works on the science, until the adequate 

 supply forms one of the principal features of modern publication. 

 Splendid abilities and acquirements have been exercised in elucidating 

 the mysteries, and exhibiting the attractions of this interesting pursuit ; 

 and it is, therefore, no trifling panegyric on the volumes before us to 

 affirm that they are worthy of a place by their most distinguished con- 

 temporaries. 



Mr. Mudie is, evidently, a sincere enthusiast in the cause of nature ; 

 he tells us, and we can believe him, that *' he has for more than forty 

 years been its admirer, having found it health in sickness, and a sure 

 anchor to the mind when the current of life ran adverse or turbulent.''* 

 (Preface, p. viii.) Disclaiming the appellation of naturalist "in the 

 common meanings of the term," the author avowedly follows no particular 

 system, being of opinion that not only the present nomenclature, but that 

 theories to which it is adapted, are liable to objection. The consequence 

 of this heresy (to us^ we confess, agreeable) is, that his volumes will be 

 more generally relished than would have been the case had they accorded 

 too deferentially with the formula of preceding authorities. With the 

 ** learned,'* it is perhaps probable that they will lose in character ; innova- 

 tion being, too frequently, looked upon with an eye of jealousy for the spirit 

 of improvement to be always fairly appreciated. The popularity of his 

 work must, in such case, compensate Mr. Mudie for any possible 

 limitation of its scientific repute. For our own parts, we consider that 

 the absence of those unnecessary technical expressions which are literal 

 ** stumbling blocks" in the path of inquiry, is a merit of no ordinary 

 value to the general reader. 



In the fruit of his observations Mr. Mudie has afforded us much 

 curious and valuable information on the habits of the birds he describes ; 

 many points are determined that were previously involved in uncertainty, 

 and many ridiculous, and at the same time many pleasing and fanciful 

 legends, submitted to the ordeal of truth with the inevitable result. 

 Chateaubriand — another enthusiast in the presence of nature — indulges 

 in a train of poetical reflections upon the singing of birds deprived of 

 their nests and their young, and such is the power of his eloquence that 

 he carries the reader away with him (vide " The Beauties of Christianity") 

 — but alas ! for his theory, Mudie brings forward the doctrine that 

 ** birds never sing in sorrow." "They scream when in fear or in pain, 

 and those that are in the habit of watching have a peculiar warning cry ; 

 hut there is this much of charm in the songs of birds, independently of their 

 music, that they are always sonys of pleasured* (Vol. i. p. 62.) We 

 may here remark that the widowed constancy of the dove suffers no 

 inconsiderable impeachment in the words of our author, for he informs 

 us, with reckless indifference, " it is, of course, not true that in any of 



* By Robert Mudie. 2 vols. 8vo. p. p. 770. Coloured plates. Whittaker and 

 Co., London. 1834. 



