1822.] Bewick’s History of British Birds. 995 
given a place whenever he could procure a specimen, not only 
to the indigenous resident birds, but also to every casual visitor. 
A very considerable increase of this department of the British 
Fauna has been the consequence which has necessarily multi- 
lied the labours of our ingenious artist, to an extent perhaps at 
first hardly anticipated. 
It would be foreign to our present purpose to give any analysis 
of the principal work, public opinion having long since decided 
on its merits. But as an opportunity has never occurred of par- 
ticularly adverting to it, we would here desire to express the 
gratification which repeated perusals of that instructive and en- 
tertaining production have afforded us. Its original pretensions, 
it is well known, were of the most unassuming kind. The 
“ History of Quadrupeds,” to which it was a sort of sequel, was 
intended as a succedaneum for the book of 300 animals. That 
paltry collection, however it might please the eye of childhood, 
was justly deemed an appendage fit for the nursery only. An 
elementary treatise which, while it inculcated a better taste and 
more correct knowledge, should by its amusing form imper- 
ceptibly win the minds of our youth to the study of natural 
history, was a desideratum. These objects, however, are so 
much better set forth by the author himself in his preface to 
the second volume of the present work, that, although it be 
stepping a little out of our way, we cannot help recurring to it. 
The passage to which we are about to quote contains a fair 
specimen of his general style, sentiments, and manner. ‘ The 
great work,” he says, “ of forming the man cannot be begun 
too early. Among the many approved branches of instruction 
Natural History holds a distinguished rank. To enlarge on the 
advantages which are derivable from a knowledge of the crea- 
tion, is surely not necessary; to become initiated into this 
knowledge, is to become enamoured of its charms; to attain 
the object in view requires but little previous study or labour ; 
the road which leads to it soon becomes strewed with flowers, 
and ceases to fatigue: a flow is given to the imagination which 
banishes early prejudices and expands the ideas; and an endiess 
fund of the most rational entertainment is spread out, which 
captivates the attention and exalts the mind. For the attain- 
ment of this science in any of its various departments, the foun- 
dation may be laid insensibly in youth, whereon a goodly super- 
structure of useful knowledge can easily be raised at a more 
advanced period. In whatever way indeed the varied objects 
of this beautiful world are viewed, they are readily understood 
by the contemplative mind ; for they are found alike to be the 
visible words of God. Could mankind be prevailed upon to read 
a few lessons from the great book of nature, so amply spread 
out before them, they would clearly see the hand of Providence 
in every page.” 
_ “Inideas congenial with these, originated the first incitements 
