212 



Faxon, Abbot's Drawings of Georgia Birds. 



TAuk 

 Ljuly 



sketches. It was Abbot's wont to note the dimensions of the 

 birds that he drew from life, in the form of memoranda 

 entered on the reverse of the plates. This is clone for most of 

 the land birds, but it is a noteworthy fact that very few of the 

 portraits of sea birds are so endorsed. Whoever drew the 

 Sanderling decreed that this bird, being a Sandpiper, should 

 not be liable, like the three-toed Waders in Gilbert White's 

 speculation, to "perpetual vacillations"! 



If Abbot — a contemporary of Wilson and Vieillot — had 

 secured the speedy publication of this remarkable collection of 

 drawings, with a suitable accompaniment of text, his name 

 would be famous in the annals of American ornithology. 

 '• Many are poets who have never penned their inspiration." 

 So, in the light of the work here reviewed, Abbot appears to 

 have been an ornithologist — but without the name. 



A catalogue of these drawings is appended — Abbot's 'local 

 list,' made during the opening decade of the century now draw- 

 ins: to a close. 



Plate 



i. Cathartes aura (Linn.). 



2. Catharista atrata (Bar/r.). 



3. Haliseetus leucocephalus 

 (Linn.). Full plumage. 



4. Buteo lineatus (Gmel.). 



5. " " ■• Young. 



6. Accipiter coopeiii (Bonap.). 



7. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). 

 Male in winter plumage. 



5. Falco sparverius. Linn. Male. 

 9. [Missing.] 



10. Nyctea nvctea (Linn.). 



11. Syrnium nebulosum alleni 

 Ridgw. 



12. [Missing.] 

 13. 



14. Corvus americanus And. 



15. Cyanocitta cristata {Linn.). 



6. [Missing.] 



17. Agelaius phceniceus {Linn.). 

 Female. 



18. Agelaius phceniceus (Linn. ). 

 Young male. 



19. Agelaius phceniceus (L^iun.). 

 Albino. 



20. Scolecophagus carolinus 

 f Mil!/. ) Spring plumage. 



21. Scolecophagus carolinus 

 {Mull.). Autumn plumage. 



22. Molothi-usater^orfV/.). Male. 



23. [Missing.] 



24. Icterus spurius (Linn.). Adult 

 male. 



25. Icterus spurius (Linn.). Fe- 

 male. 



26. Icterus spurius (Linn.). Male 

 of second year. 



27. [Missing.] 



2S. Quiscalus major Vicill. Fe- 

 male. 



29. [Missing.] 



30. 



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