96 A RETROSPECT OF THE LITERATURE 



the plan of Temminck, is the other publication which we neglected 

 to notice in the body of our Review. It is the production of Dr. 

 Shirley Palmer ; intended as a guide to the beautiful, and now 

 nearly perfect. Collection of British Birds^ in Weaver's Birmingham 

 Museum ; and is a very useful work in its humble and unpretend- 

 ing way. In the new edition, now, we understand, in a state of 

 preparation for the press, a more modern and scientific arrangement 

 of the Birds will probably be adopted. 



It now only remains for us to cursorily notice the four newly- 

 published works to which we have before adverted. The first Of 

 tliese is the Natural History of Birds, by the well-known zoologi- 

 cal writer, Robert Mudie : a very elaborately composed and instruc- 

 tive, duodecimo volume ; illustrated with numerous accurate and 

 well-executed engravings on wood. It indicates a mnst profound 

 and extensive knowledge of the organization of the Bird-Class ; 

 and will amply repay the ornithological student for the time and 

 trouble expended upon an attentive perusal. Even in the present 

 age of cheap publications, Mr. Mu die's Natural History of Birds 

 is, by far, the cheapest production of the British press which we have 

 hitherto seen. 



In the spring of the present year, the first number of Illustrations 

 of British Birds, by H. L. Meyer, made its appearance ; and the 

 publication of the work has since been regularly continued every 

 month. Six of the numbers have already reached us. With 

 the exception of Mr, Gould's work, this is the most promising at- 

 tempt to illustrate the Ornithology of the British Islands which has 

 yet fallen under our notice. The figures of the subjects are almost 

 invariably drawn with great fidelity and spirit. Of the colouring 

 we cannot speak in the same terms of commendation. The plum- 

 age of the Nuthatch, Siita Europcea^ and of the Land-rail, Orlygo- 

 metra crex, in Part 11, is much too pale: and the hapless Bullfinch, 

 Pyrrhula VM/g-an*, exhibits lamentable proof of the deficiency of the 

 artist in the organ of colour. Four plates of Birds, and one of 

 their eggs, are contained in each number. The execution of the 

 latter, although tolerably neat and accurate, will sustain no com- 

 parison with the masterly productions of Mr. Hewitson's pencil. — 

 The six numbers, now before us, comprehend thirty-five figures of 



