Bibliographical Notices. 459 



^aphy,' is also nearly completed. The third volume was published 

 immediately after an arduous voyage to the coasts of Labrador, for 

 the purjwse of examining the breeding stations of the northern birds ; 

 and after returning to England, and spending the time requisite for 

 arranging the materials derived from that journey, another expedi- 

 tion is again undertaken to the southern states of America, and we 

 have many of the results now before us, in the first part of the con- 

 cluding volume of the work. 



Mr. Audubon's previous volumes have been so frequently ex- 

 tracted from for the amusement and information of the general 

 reader, that the manner in which he treats his subjects is familiarly 

 known, and we shall now interfere with little criticism. The style 

 is undoubtedly peculiar ; and from the pen of any other, or from that 

 of an imitator, it would read and sound extremely affected ; but 

 knowing the man, and thinking that we hear him tell the tale while 

 we read it, every feeling is lost in the freshness of the picture, and 

 in the truthfulness of the detail. A little want of courtesy is some- 

 times manifested towards those whom he may think do not possess 

 sufficient knowledge of the North American Fauna, and some dis- 

 dain is exhibited towards the opinions of systematists ; but while he 

 points out those traits of habit which frequently confirm the " sus- 

 picions " of the theorist he condemns, he cannot resist generalising 

 himself, according to the manners of the birds which he has had such 

 ample opportunities of studying, and which he has so often beauti- 

 fully described ; and if he would bear this in mind, he might perhaps 

 find some apology for the ornithologist who mourns that various 

 causes do not permit him to enjoy the advantages of the " woods- 

 man," and who only ventures to turn his recorded practical know- 

 ledge to the formation or support of his own opinions. 



The volume before us is scarcely so original as its predecessors, 

 owing to many of the species having been procured from other tra- 

 vellers, and the accounts of their habits taken from the notes which 

 they furnished. It was scarcely to be expected that one individual 

 could personally examine the habits of all the birds of so vast a tract, 

 and a general history would have been incomplete without the in- 

 troduction, so far as known, of every species. We miss also the 

 ' Episodes ' which gave such vivid accounts of scenery, — the forest 

 and prairie, the flood and war of elements, the chase, and the man- 

 ners of the squatter and woodsman. This part is here occupied with 

 anatomical details by Mr. Macgillivray. Mr, Audubon, during his 

 last journey, having brought over many specimens in spirits, they 

 have been dissected, and their anatomy is now illustrated by bold 



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