IV. 



ABOUT the very great merit of this 

 work, there is but one opinion among 

 competent judges. It is, indeed, a 

 monument to the man's indomitable 

 energy and perseverance, and it is a 

 monument to the science of ornithology. 

 The drawings of the birds are very spir- 

 ited and life like, and their biographies 

 copious, picturesque, and accurate, and, 

 taken in connection with his many jour- 

 nals, they afford glimpses of the life of 

 the country during the early part of the 

 century, that are of very great interest 

 and value. 



In writing the biography of the birds 

 he wrote his autobiography as well ; he 

 wove his doings and adventures into his 

 natural history observations. This gives 

 a personal flavour to his pages, and is 

 the main source of their charm. 



His account of the Eosebreasted Gros- 

 beak is a good sample of his work in this 

 respect : 



