INTRODUCTION. 5 



stick the size of a common knitting-needle,, glass-eyes, a solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate, and any kind of a common tem- 

 porary box to hold the specimen. These also may go under 

 the denomination of the former. But if you wish to excel in 

 the art, if you wish to be in Ornithology, what Angelo was in 

 sculpture, you must apply to profound study and your own 

 genius to assist you. And these may be called the scientific 

 requisites. 



" You must have a complete knowledge of Ornithological an- 

 atomy. You must pay close attention to the form and attitude 

 of the bird, and know exactly the proportion each curve or 

 extension, or contraction, or expansion of any particular part 

 bears to the rest of the body. In a word, you must possess 

 Promethean boldness, and bring down fire and animation as it 

 were, into your preserved specimen. 



" Repair to the haunts of birds on plains and mountains, for- 

 ests, swamps, and lakes, and give up your time to examine 

 the economy of the different orders of birds. 



" Then you will place your Eagle, in attitude commanding, 

 the same as Nelson stood in, in the day of battle, on the Vic- 

 tory's quarter deck. Your Pie will seem crafty, and just ready 

 to take flight, as though fearful of being surprised in some 

 mischievous plunder. Your Sparrow will retain its wonted 

 pertness, by means of placing his tail a little elevated, and 

 giving a moderate arch to the neck. Your Vulture will show 

 his sluggish habits by having his body nearly parallel to the 

 earth; his wings somewhat drooping, and their extremities 

 under the tail instead of above it, expressive of ignoble in 

 dolence. 



" Your Dove will be in airless, fearless innocence, looking 

 mildly at you, with its neck not too much stretched, as if un- 

 easy in its situation, or drawn too close into the shoulders, like 

 one wishing to avoid discovery ; but in moderate, perpendicu- 

 lar lengths, supporting the head horizontally, which will set 

 off the breast to the best advantage. " * 



To the traveller who wanders in search of knowledge, but 



* Wanderings in South America, &c. by Charles Waterton, Esq., a work 

 that cannot be too highly commended, from the many remarkable inci- 

 dents contained in it, and the highly poetic and zealous warmth of its die- 

 (ton, 



A3 



