APPENDIX. 601 



the true principle of the art. If your readers disbelieve that this ' 

 has been in some measure accomplished, I say, let them suspend 

 their judgment until they have an opportunity of seeing the bird 

 alive. I quite agree with Mr Waterton's observations about the legs 

 of large birds ; and it was my intention to have attended to those of 

 the bird in question ; but at the time (no exhibition of it being then 

 thought of) I had not leisure. I could point out several other de- 

 fects from accidental causes ; but none of them are of a nature to 

 draw us away from the question Mr Waterton started, with reference 

 to the principles of taxidermy in the Exhibition ; who now finding 

 himself attacked, and hard pressed upon it, is fain to beat a retreat by 

 the legs of my peacock. He seemed to wish to sit supremely ele- 

 vated as a critic in the art ; but to use his own happy expression, 

 (omitting its grammar) was too wide awake to have sent any illus- 

 trations of his execution in it to the Crystal Palace. 



Remember Icarus's height 



(Perhaps the observation stings) ; 



Thou shouldst have asked before thy flight 



Dame Wisdom for a pair of wings. 



May I, sir, crave your indulgence once more only? and I have the 

 honour to remain, sir, your obedient servant, 



J. B. P. DENNIS. 



The Peacock at the Crystal Palace. 

 To the Editor. 



" Quantum mutatus ! " 



Sir, By Nimrod, this is the most unsightly bird that ever a wan- 

 dering forester fell in with ! Could Juno see her once comely pet 

 in such a sorry plight, would she not scold the author of all its 

 miseries ? 



Where are the peacock's nostrils I ask ? Where is that arched 

 protuberance on the bill, which in life was so apparent, and 



