X BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 



Europe. Though sketched by Mr. Gould himself (for even 

 to the last days of his life he executed the designs for all his 

 plates), the majority of the Humming-birds were placed on 

 stone by Mr. Richter, who also did the same for Mr, Gould^s 

 next work, the ' Birds of Asia.^ This work, though not com- 

 pleted at the time of his death *, is most valuable on account 

 of the number of plates of species not figured elsewhere. The 

 ' Mammals of Australia,' produced simultaneously with the 

 last-mentioned work, deserved, in Mr. Gould's own opinion, 

 more credit for its issue than perhaps any work he had done, 

 because it touched upon a branch of zoology of which he 

 never pretended to have any very exact knowledge. So large, 

 however, had been his collections of Mammalia during his 

 sojourn in Australia that some account of them seemed 

 to be demanded, and he therefore published his large folio 

 work ; but the pecuniary results were less satisfactory than 

 with any of his ornithological productions. His typical 

 specimens of the Australian Mammalia are in the national 

 collection. No sooner were the Humming-birds finished 

 than his active brain conceived a new idea, to illustrate 

 becomingly the birds of his native land, and he commenced 

 the publication of the ' Birds of Great Britain.' Opinions 

 may differ as to the merit of Mr. Gould's other works; 

 volumes less ponderous than the folios which he adopted for 

 the better figuring of the objects of the natural size may 

 take their place with the student; but no work of greater 

 beauty will be produced than that on which John Gould, 

 returning in his later life to his first love, bestowed the 

 fulness of his energy and the acme of his artistic talent. 

 The care bestowed on the plates of this work was remarkable, 

 the aim of the author being to produce a picture of the 

 birds as they appeared in their natural haunts; and especial 

 pains were bestowed on the young, particularly those of the 



* Since been completed hy Mr. R, Bowdler Sharpe, aud forms seven 

 volumes. 



