228 Water-Colour Studies of Bird Life.


sun is trying to break through the mist or slight fog of a

December’s afternoon. This study is not a large one and the

birds themselves appear quite small in it. but to my eyes, the

charm of it is the ripple left by the receding birds, on the other¬

wise smooth water. Another water subject, with the water in

movement amongst reed beds, shows a flock of Wild Duck

coming down, as we may suppose, on to a broad in Norfolk, with

a reed bed as real in appearance as need be wished. Still another

shows a pair of Wigeon, with the male bird rolling over on the

water scratching its head : the drawing of the duck is compar¬

atively commonplace, but the pose and drawing of the drake

show a courage not often met with amongst bird artists.


That Mr. Lodge can draw the Passerine birds which are

most familiar to people who keep birds in captivity, is evinced

by the studies here shown and although the two, of Magpie and

Jay respectively, are not up to the general standard of these

works, the one of the Snow Bunting is one of the best, if not the

best, drawings of a Passerine bird I have ever seen. It has not

the peculiar interest of the painting of the Sedge Warblers at

Wicken Fen exhibited at his last London exhibition, which had

the distinction of being the best and most life-like study of Warb¬

lers I have seen, but it is remarkably faithful and characteristic,,

and as I have kept Snow Buntings, I can speak with confidence.


The Wren and the Robin are both drawn with fidelity and

softness and the same might be said of the study of Goldfinches.

The one Passerine subject I did not like, was that of the Bearded

Tits, nor did I like the study of the Snipe in the stream amongst

the snow, which was rather harsh and unpleasant.


But though Grouse, Gulls, Ducks, Herons and Pheasants

may all be drawn well and faithfully, it is amongst the studies of

birds of prey that we find Mr. Lodge at his best. There are not

so many of them this year as hitherto; but the knowledge is

still shown as of yore and the two studies of Peregrines, the one

of a Merlin, another of an Iceland Falcon and last, but far from

least, the exceptionally good study of a Kite, are alone worth a

visit that few, if any, of our members would regret making.


To those who are thinking of visiting this fine collection I

may mention that it will be on view until June 30th.



