Recently published Ornithological Works. 031 



Eacli plate contains representations of from three in the 

 case of the larger, to eight or nine in the case of the smaller 

 species ; as far as possible allied species appear on the same 

 plate, and all the birds on the plate are drawn to scale, two- 

 thirds life-size for the smaller to one-third life-size for the 

 larger species. Most of the birds are depicted with appro- 

 priate backgrounds or surroundings, so that there appears 

 to be some little confusion to our eye on some of the 

 plates. The reproduction of the original drawings, which 

 has been carried out by some form of three-colour process, 

 certainly seems very perfect, though it is difficult to judge 

 of this without a comparison with the original sketches. 

 As for the pictures themselves, they combine great artistic 

 merit with a most accurate representation of the birds, not 

 only as to form and colouring, but as to attitude and 

 general characteristics, and we believe that this work will 

 certainly enhance Mr. Thorburn's reputation as our leading 

 bird-artist. Our only criticism is that the plumage of every 

 bird is in such a pink of perfection as is seldom seen in 

 real life. 



The letterpress is designedly subordinate to the pictures. 

 It consists of short notes on the distribution and habits of 

 each species, supplemented by such observations as have 

 been made by Mr. Thorburn himself during his many years 

 of bird-painting. The classification and nomenclature of 

 Howard Sauuders^s ' Manual ' is generally followed, and the 

 present volume contains the descriptions and figures of all 

 the Passerine birds except the Larks. 



We congratulate Mr. Thorburn on the completion of his 

 first volume, and shall look forward eagerly to the appear- 

 ance of the other three. The only work which can in the 

 least compare with the present one is Lord Lilford's 

 ' Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Isles,' 

 which was published many years ago ; the last part was 

 i.ssued in 1897 ; two editions were, we believe, exhausted 

 before the final part was issued. We wish Mr. Thorburn. 

 equal success. 



