50 Forgotten Feathers. [isf July 



generally credited with having given these names, but in future 

 we must give credit where it is due.* 



The preface, written by a brother of the author, is as follows : — 



" This little Volume is the beginning of a Work which is in- 

 tended to comprehend the whole of the Birds of New Holland as 

 they may come to the Author's hands, and which will be con- 

 tinued in succession, he having been nine years in that country, 

 travelling, collecting, and painting for this purpose. 



" As it is impossible at once to bring together every Species of a 

 Genus, that may be found in a country that abounds so much in 

 novelty, our Author intends to vary the subject in each Volume, 

 but care will be taken, when one or more Birds of a Genus may be 

 figured in a Volume, to give the Generic Character, or a reference 

 to where it may have been given before, and the whole will be 

 connected by Indices, in proper places, so as to make the Work 

 useful, scientific, and complete. We have retrenched the descrip- 

 tions of the Birds in this Work, from what was intended by the 

 Author to be given, because we consider them dry, and un- 

 necessary in a work where every species is beautifully and correctly 

 figured ; and we have confined ourselves to such particulars as 

 seem to be useful and necessary. We trust that, in thus deviating 

 from the usual practice of Ornithologists, we shall not be con- 

 demned as having improperly lessened the expense of the Work. 

 Sure we are that such a body of dry descriptions as usually 

 accompanies the little quantity of useful Natural History which 

 is generally given with each Species, is both tedious and disgusting, 

 and so unmeaning to the general Reader as to make Ornithology 

 appear pedantic ; whereas in our way of treating the subject, we 

 flatter ourselves that the Ornithologists will more easily identify 

 the Species, the general Reader will peruse the Letter-press with 

 pleasure, and this branch of the Sciences will obtain admirers and 



advocates. ,, „ t >< 



" Thomas Lewin. 



Then follows : — " A List of Subscribers/Printed by Particular 

 Desire./ Subscribers in New South Wales./ His Excellency 

 William Bligh," &c., &c. 



67 copies were subscribed for in New South Wales, the names of 

 which subscribers were obtained by Lewin himself in 1806, and 6 

 others were obtained in London. 



Lewin apparently sent over 8 more engraved plates, but these 

 did not receive a scientific name when published in 1822, when the 

 original 18 were again published (re-issued), after having the date 

 rubbed off.f 



The following quotation shows that Lewin was still working : — 

 *' In April, 1815, the Governor himself, with Mrs. Macquarie, 



* To credit Bensley with the authorship of the names would be erroneous. 

 Bensley was the printer of the letter-press. — E. A. Petherick. 



I The Latin names in the text were also omitted. — E. A. Petherick. 



