III. THE DABCHICKS. 121 



when the feet are as small in proportion 

 as tlie TorrenL-ouzel's, I greatly doubt the 

 possibility of such a balance as Bewick has 

 given it (Fig. 13 a). Gould's of the black- 

 bodiced Ouzel (Fig. 1^ l^) is, I imagine, right. 

 Bewick was infallible in plume texture, and 

 expression either of the features of animals, 

 or of any action that had meaning in it ; but 



Fig. 13 /;. 



he was singularly careless of indifferent points 

 in geometry or perspective ; and even loses 

 character in his water-birds, by making them 

 always swim on the top of the water. 



loi. But, whatever their balance of body, 

 or use of foot, the two birds just examined are. 



