ILLUSTRATIONS OF ZOOLOGY. 123 



It was at this time that Mr Wilson began to publish 

 his " Illustrations of Zoology." It was a series of elabo- 

 rate plates, of a large size, and accompanied by de- 

 scriptive letterpress, and was designed to be a receptacle 

 for new or remarkable species in the various classes of 

 the animal kingdom. He was himself a good draughts- 

 man, and in this work he had the assistance of an admir- 

 able artist, Mr P. Syme. One handsome volume was 

 completed, but before he could proceed further, he had 

 become committed to a more arduous undertaking. 



The following letters throw some light on these pur- 

 suits, and they also shew the unselfishness and mutual 

 helpfulness by which it were devoutly to be desired that 

 all fe /low-labourers in the fields of science were equally 

 distinguished 



TO SIR WILLIAM JARDINE, BART. 



" Woodville, Canaan, Edinburgh, 

 9th February 1827. 



"Dear Sir William, — I this day had the pleasure 

 to procure a copy of your work, and promised myself a 

 high treat by my cottage fireside this evening ; but having 

 a meeting with Mr Lizars at Mr Blackwood's about my 

 own concerns, I found, when half-way home, that 1 had 

 put a wrong book under my arm, and left yours on Mr 

 B/s table. However, I shall send for it to-morrow morn- 



