XIX 
the feet of many birds have, or rather have not; observe 
how, against the canon of art, the dark part of the birds 
is forced forward by a light background; the light, by a 
dark ; what a knife-like edge their feathery outlines have. 
How different is the work to some of that in Mr. 
Dresser’s ‘Birds of Europe;’ how different to Wolf’s work, 
on the walls of the Zoological Gardens’ Museum; of course 
I know there is only one Wolf. 
Is there anything in those volumes of Yarrell equal 
to the charming little vignette ‘‘the Common Sandpiper’s 
Nest,” in Seebohm’s book. 
To see the advance in art compare the vignette 
at the end of the article on the ‘ Puffin,’ in Yarrell. 
Yet certain excellencies, or exceptions may be found 
in one, as the Night Heron; and in the other, as the be- 
haloed eggs in the Pheasant’s nest. 
The pictures in Yarrell have doubtless an attractive 
prettiness, but I do not believe that (although my stuffed 
birds do so) Owls in repose shew their shanks as they do 
in his work, and in Museums. 
To one interested in the branch of Oology, and my 
own attention, more devoted to field Entomology, reverted 
two years ago to an old love long in abeyance, and not 
now to be practically studied in the field: 
To one interested in this study, Mr. Seebohm’s book 
is invaluable, if after having access to it, persons, even 
tyros, continue to be taken in by dishonest men, it must 
be their own fault, because what may be taken for warn- 
ings against being deceived by specious misrepresentation, 
and the prevalent substitution of varieties of common 
eggs for rare eggs of price, are continuous through the 
work. 
It is an absolute fact that in more than one establish- 
ment in a great thoroughfare running east and west in 
