not observed in the British Isles.* 83 



but it is remarkable that the regard in which they are held is 

 exactly proportionate to the knowledge they possessed of exotic 

 forms. 



The idea of a work relating only to those European birds which 

 do not occur in this country had, if we mistake not, been enter- 

 tained by two or three of our ornithologists. Whether they or 

 Mr. Bree would have performed the author's part best, we do 

 not care to inquire. He is first in the field, nay, at present alone 

 there, and therefore entitled to our undivided support. We have 

 little doubt that the low price of his book — to say nothing of 

 the mode of publication, which spreads even this small expense 

 over a considerable period of time — will obtain for it a very ex- 

 tended sale, and will, we trust, make the subjects of it extremely 

 popular. We do not look for a scientific work — we even fear 

 we must be content to accept error for truth occasionally ; for 

 though we fully believe Mr. Bree to be a pains-taking man, 

 heartily desirous of performing his self-imposed duties with 

 credit to his reputation and satisfaction to his subscribers, yet, 

 as the most honest man will now and then prove an unjust judge 

 if he be not a good lawyer, so we are afraid that Mr. Brce's 

 very best intentions have not always saved him from mistakes, 

 into which, perhaps, a man better up in his subject, even with less 

 conscientious striving after accuracy, would never have fallen. 



We have a right to expect that Mr. Bree should, as his pro- 

 spectus announces, carefully collate his information from the 

 best authors ; and on the whole we think he has done so ; but 

 that he should be exempt from the common failing of compilers, 

 is of course not to be hoped for. 



The seven parts of Mr. Bree's work already published contain 

 the European non -British VulturidoR and Falconida. We do not 

 wish to prejudge the remainder of the book, but we cannot but 

 feel a lurking suspicion that we may have seen the best portion 

 of it. Mr. Bree has fortunately obtained the assistance of one 

 whose knowledge of the Raptorial Order is unquestionably su- 

 perior to that of any other man. An attentive reader of ' The 

 Birds of Europe not observed in the British Isles' will have no 

 difficulty in recognizing the suggestions and ideas of Mr. John 

 Henry Gurney in many places where no mention is made of that 



