49 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
qualifications, his works are assuredly the most 
valuable, on general ornithology, that have ever 
appeared in England. This arose from his being 
the first who figured and described a vast number 
of birds, then new to naturalists, who consequently 
refer to him as the original authority for all such 
species. The figures of Edwards were copied and 
recopied by nearly all succeeding writers, up to the 
year 1820, when we ventured, in the Zoological 
Iliustrations, to introduce a new style of delinea- 
tion; and to substitute original figures for those 
which were then copied into nearly all the popular 
compilations. . Edwards was remarkably exact in 
his descriptions, and sufficiently so in his figures, 
so that no zoologicai library, especially one for 
reference, should be without his volumes.* In the 
year 1744, the famous discovery was made by 
Trembley, a native of Geneva, of the reproductive 
powers of the freshwater polype.+ The develope- 
ment of this wonderful fact entitles his name to a 
high station in the records of analytical research ; 
although, in its general effect, this discovery exer- 
cises far less influence on zoological arrangement 
* Edwards. (1.) The Natural History of uncommon Birds, 
and of some other rare and undescribed Animals. By George 
‘Edwards, Library Keeper to the Royal College of Physicians. 
In 4 vols. 4to. 1748—1750. Edwards is erroneously termed 
by Cuvier, Peintre Anglais. (2.) Gleanings of Natural History, 
exhibiting Figures of Quadrupeds, Birds, Insects, Plants, &c. 
By George Edwards, F.R.S. and F.A.S. In 8 vols. 4to. 
1758—1764. 
t+ Trembley. Mémoires pour servir 4 l’Histoire des Po- 
lypes d’eau douce, a bras en forme de cornes. Leyden, 1744. 
1 vol. 4to, 
