26 



THF. YOUNG OOLOGIST. 



chased separately. Certainly, for no lover 

 of the beautiful in nature, much less for 

 any one who has made the fascinating 

 study of Oriiithologj' either a business or a 

 recreation, can there easily be found a pic- 

 ture more truly grand and beautiful, or 

 one which would possess so many and 

 varied attractions as one of these famous 

 plates of Audubon's. It is perhaps need- 

 less for us to say much here in praise of 

 these plates or in explanation of their his- 

 tory. Their production was the result of 

 the labor of a lifetime spent, as it was, in 

 the constant pursuit of this one great ob- 

 ject, in which he was sustained liy a lofty 

 enthusiasm which no difficulties nor no 

 amount of danger could overcome. In 

 every plate it is Nature herself that is 

 copied. They are full of vivacity, the 

 birds being represented in action amid the 

 scenes, or on the plants and trees most com- 

 mon to their habits, all carefully drawn 

 and colored according to naliue He has 

 not contented himself, as others have done, 

 with single profile views, but in man_y in- 

 stances has grouped his figures so as to 

 represent the originals at their natural avo- 

 cations ; and has placed them on branches 

 of trees decorated with foliage, blossoms 

 and fruits, or amidst plants of nu- 

 merous species. Some are seen pursuing 

 their prey through the air, searching for 

 food among the leaves and herbage, sitting 

 in their ue.sts, or feeding their young ; 

 whilst others of a diiierent nature swim, 

 wade or glide in or over their allotted ele- 

 ment. In this consists the superiority of 

 Audubon's delineations over those of other 

 naturalists, wherein the birds are represent- 

 ed in as stifl' a posture as if thi y were sit- 

 ting for their portraits. 



The prices have all ben placed extreme- 

 ly low, and we feel confident that where a 

 single plate is ordered ;is a specimen, the 

 result will be so satisfactory to the pur- 

 chaser that other orders will quickly follow. 



Of many of these plates there is but very 

 few copies, and as there can never be any 

 more (the original stones having been de- 

 stroyed), early orders will be necessary to 

 to take advantage of the present offer. 



Each plate will be carefully packed in a 

 heavy pasteboard roller, specially made for 

 the purpose, and forwarded by mail, post- 

 age prepitid, on receipt of the price quoted. 



Thinking a description of these plates 

 might be or interest to the readers of The 

 Young Oologist, we shall give descrip- 

 tions of them as our space permits. Should 

 any of our friends desire to purchase any 

 of these plates their orders should be ad- 

 dressed to to the Publisher of The Young 

 Oologist. 



c.\nv.\s-b.\cked duck. 



Of this celebrated Duck, far famed as 

 food for epicures, Audubon presents in 

 this magnificent plate three fine specimens, 

 two males and a female. One of the males 

 is gracefully sailing along on the water, 

 with head erect and as if fully conscious of 

 the beautiful spectacle he presents ; while 

 the other standing upon the shore, with 

 outstretched neck and open bill, is prepar- 

 ing to snatch at some object on the surface 

 of the water which has attracted his 

 eye. The female is represented standing 

 upon a -rock on the edge of the water. In 

 the background is a view of the city of 

 Baltimore. All three of of the birds are 

 drawn life size and colored from nature, 

 and in their easy and graceful positions 

 form a truly magnificent spectacle. Plate 

 39x26 inches. Reduced from ^Sii.OO to 

 110.00. 



PUKPI.E GH.\KLE OR COStMON CKOW BLACK- 

 BIRD. 



This beautifully colored and life-like 

 plate represents both male and female bird 

 on a stalk of rich green Maize or Indian 

 Qirii. and exhibits them in the full exer- 

 cise of their nefarious propensities : -The 

 male, as if in full delight at the sight of 

 the havoc which he has already committed 

 on the tender, juicy, unripe corn on which 

 he stands, has swelled his tnroat and is 

 calling in exultation to his companions to 

 come and assist him in demolishing it. 

 The female has fed her.self and is aboat to 

 fly off with a well loaded bill to her hun- 

 gry and expectant brood that from the 

 nest look on their plundering parents, joy- 

 ously anticipating the pleasures of wh 



ich 



