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" The Bird,'" by Jules Michelet, with 210 illustratiojis, 

 by Giacomelli. Thomas Nelson of Sons, London 

 and Edinburgh, 



" ' Iv'Oiseaii,' or ' The Bird,' was first published 

 *' in 1856, .... a work .... which few 

 " writers have surpassed in grace of style, beauty of 

 " description, and suggestiveness of sentiment. 

 *' ' L'Oiseau ' may be briefly described as an 

 " eloquent defence of the Bird in its relation to man, 

 " and a practical exposition of the attractiveness of 

 " Natural Histor}^ It is animated by a fine and 

 '' tender spirit, and written with an inimitable charm 

 *' of language." 



Such is the opening sentence in the translator's 

 preface, and accurately describes, in a few words, the 

 manifold beauties of the book. And liere let me at 

 once confess that this is less a review than an 

 appreciation, of the most charming work dealing with 

 the life of our feathered friends it has ever been my 

 pleasure to possess. 



Jules Michelet, the author, was a Frenchman, 

 and it is, perhaps, the peculiar gracefulness of his 

 native tongue, that has enabled him to express his 

 thotights with stich delicate touches of light and 

 shade. He appears to have sunk his individuality in 

 that of a bird, and as a result has given us all the joys, 

 sorrows, and aspirations that animate and direct the 

 feathered race. But though poetical, Michelet is 

 none the less practical, and he has dealt with each 

 and every side of a bird's nature and existence. 

 With him we visit the King Penguins in the frozen 

 North, the Humming Birds in the tropics, the lordly 

 Kagle, the industrious Weavers, the giant Condors, 



