158 Notice of British Naturalists. 
histories which are still wanting in several parts of this country.”* 
“If the writer should at all.appear to have induced any one of his 
readers to pay a more ready attention to the wonders of creation, 
too frequently overlooked as common occurrences ; or if he should, 
by any means, have lent a helping hand towards the boundaries 
of historical and topographical knowledge, his purpose will be 
fully answered. But if he should not have been successful in 
any of his intentions, yet there remains the consolation behind, 
that these pursuits, by keeping the body and mind employed, 
contributed to much health and cheerfulness of spirit, even to old 
age.” 
But while writers were thus arising on all sides, and were dil- 
igently employed in illustrating the zodlogy of their own country, 
this science could not yet be said to have become, in the propet 
sense of the word, popular. Illustrated books are peculiarly ne- 
cessary in the pursuit of this study. Such were still expensive, 
and difficult of attainment. "The works of Linnzeus were stil 
concealed in the Latin tongue ; and the majority, those for whom 
such a refining study is chiefly to be desired, were thus shut out 
from the most efficient means of acquiring a philosophical knowl- 
edge of the subject. This difficulty was now to be removed. 
In 1790, Tuomas Bewicx first appeared conspicuously before 
the public, both as a naturalist, and the reviver of the art of et 
graving on wood; and we may justly be allowed to consider the 
publication of his works as an era inthis science, so far as it ret 
dered the subject more easily available to the mass of the people. 
In this year came out the first edition of his ‘General History of 
Quadrupeds ;) a book which went through nine editions before 
the year 1824, Although he does not confine himself to British 
animals, he gives, with his usual accuracy of delineation, eng'® 
vings of all the species which were then known. The improv 
ment, however, which he afterwards made in his art, will be 
readily observed by those who compare his earlier style im this 
work, with the softness and spirit which characterize his birds 12 
the later editions. 'Thomas Bewick was born in 1753, at Chetty” 
burn, in Northumberland. His parents were far from being 2 
; . The intelligence, accuracy, and fullness of Sir John Sinclair’s great work, 
The Statistical History of Scotland,’ are well known. It was formed on this pri 
“ and the account of each parish and district contributed by its respective 
ister. 
