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be shown to others. Such work is in some measure similar to language, which conveys to 

 others (but temporarily only, unless also written) the ideas of one person which originate in his 

 brain or mind, whichever it may be called the drawing giving the idea in a different manner 

 and by a much shorter process than could be done by either language or writing. 



There can be little doubt but that the discovery of photography has helped greatly in the truer 

 representation of living objects in motion, particularly when wished to be represented foreshortened. 

 One may attempt a profile without knowing much of anatomy; but, without a knowledge of 

 this, an attempt to represent a foreshortened animal in motion is not likely to be effectual ; 

 but even anyone quite up in anatomy may be quite unable to represent on paper what he 

 understands, though he would probably see at a glance whether a representation was any- 

 thing like what it ought to be. 



I have sometimes considered, if it could ever be possible to take instantaneous photographs 

 of flocks of birds flying if such could be taken they would really be most interesting; as it 

 often happens a flock of birds, from its shape and the position of the individuals in it, the 

 species might be recognised from the photograph. Many species can be known, at a distance, 

 by the form of the flock, and the manner of flight of the birds composing it ; some kinds keep- 

 ing at a distance from each other, whilst others fly close together ; each kind often having some 

 peculiarity in flight by which it is known. What teaches birds these peculiarities in their 

 flight ? No doubt they are often in consequence of the form of the wings ; but the form of 

 the wings would not regulate the distances at which the birds keep from each other when in 

 the flock, or the shape of the flock. 



