° 'i9is J Harris, Uncolored Prints of Audubon. 31 



entirely by himself, were his own working proofs. These proofs, 

 now owned by Mr. Williams, are cut into small portions, probably 

 for the greater convenience of the engraver in handling. 



Mr. Ruthven Dean, who has thrown so much light on obscure 

 matters pertaining to Auduboniana, writes that he has in his pos- 

 session an uncolored proof from the Foolish Guillemot plate and 

 that he has data referring to some three hundred other black prints 

 which were at one time in the hands of Audubon. This number 

 indicates the existence of approximately a complete set. 



The eight prints ' above referred to as discovered by the writer 

 were presented some time during the year 1850 — together with 

 others since destroyed by fire — by M. and Mme. Audubon to 

 their friend and neighbor Judge John B. Church. These prints 

 are unquestionably trial proofs, as, aside from possessing a char- 

 acteristic brilliance and sharpness, they show certain discrepancies 

 and interesting errors in the lettering which render these particular 

 copies unfit for use in the published work and made it imperative 

 that the engravings be immediately corrected. 



It will be noted in the accompanying reproduction of the proof 

 from the American Crow plate that the scientific name of the bird, 

 Corvus americanus, is repeated after the words, "Black Walnut". 

 In correcting this error by substituting the scientific name of the 

 tree, Juglans nigra, it was found necessary to reengrave the words 

 Black Walnut, so that the entire line might conform to the altered 

 display. Unfortunately some pencil notations on this print had 

 been erased before it came into the writer's hands. These may 

 have been made by Havell himself, as his fragmentary working 

 proofs are so marked. In the lower right hand corner, whether 

 referring to the predominate color note to be used in this plate or 

 not, is plainly discernible the word "Black." A reproduction is 

 also given of a colored print from this plate taken from a published 

 set to show, as much as it is possible to show in a greatly reduced 

 reproduction by the half-tone process, the qualities referred to 

 above. 



1 Plate LVI Red-shouldered Hawk. Plate CCCI Canvas Backed Duck. 



" CXXXII Three-toed Woodpecker. " CCCII Dusky Duck. 



" CLVI American Crow. " CCCXX Little Sandpiper. 



CCXVII Louisiana Heron. " CCCXCII Louisiana Hawk. 



