122 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



South Wales' bird, as is shown by Lewin's remarks. In 1808 

 Lewin's " Birds of New Holland " was published, the plates being 

 engraved and coloured by the author in the Colony. With the 

 exceptions of the plates in Lewin's " Insects of New South 

 Wales," published by the same author in 1805, these plates were 

 the earliest engravings produced in Australia. 



Lewin referred to this edition of his work as " The Birds of 

 New South Wales," and not " The Birds of New Holland," the 

 latter a title it must have received in London, where the 

 letterpress was printed. In The Sydney Gazette, of Sunday, 

 November 20, 1808, is the following advertisement : — 



" Mr. J. Lewin begs leave to acquaint the Officers, Civil and 

 Military, and their Ladies who honoured with their Names the 

 List of Subscriber's to his intended Work, entitled ' The Birds of 

 New South Wales with their Natural History,' that he has 

 received advices promising the Transmittal, by the next arrival, 

 of the Copies of the first volume subscribed for here. 



This work, which Mr. Lewin has for many years laboured to 

 render as perfect as he was able, will comprise several Volumes 

 painted, engraved and described from the birds as soon as taken. 

 Each Volume will contain Eighteen Plates with one or more 

 birds on each Plate ; many of which are new, beautiful, and some 

 of new genera. 



The copies, which will be elegantly printed on an Imperial 

 Quarto, will be delivered as soon as they are received, with every 

 respectful Acknowledgement to those who were kind enough to 

 patronise his exertions in the Colony. 



No. 44 Chapel Row." 



Four years later, in The Syduey Gazette, of Saturday, August 

 1, 1812, is the following :— 



"A Card. 



Mr. J. W. Lewin, begs leave to inform his friends and the 

 Public in general, that he intends opening an Academy for 

 Painting on the Days of Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 

 the hours of 10 to 12 in the Forenoon." 



In the National Art Gallery, Sydney, there is a water-colour 

 by Lewin, entitled "Sydney in 1808." On the 25th April, 1815, 

 Lewin, as painter and naturalist, accompanied Governor Mac- 

 tiuarie on his tour over the Blue Mountains.'^ In the Appendix to 

 Wentworth's " Description of the Colony of New South ^\'ales "^ 



« O'Hara— Hist. ^'. S. Wales. 1818, p. 440. 

 J Wentwovth— p. 437, I8l9. 



