SOME EARLY BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS. 359 



interests between the editors .... the compilation 

 and completion of the present work devolved upon one 

 alone." He also acknowledges his obligations to the 

 Rev. H. Coates, the vicar of Bedlington, for " literary 

 corrections." 



A facsimile title-page of the first volume of the first 

 edition of " British Birds " is here given, that of the 

 second volume is somewhat similar, but Beilby's name 

 does not appear in it. 



The collation of the book is as follows : — 



Vol. 1 ; pp. XXX., title, preface, introduction and 

 contents, + PP- ^^^, f H'^ figures of birds, and 91 tail- 

 pieces. 



Vol. 2 ; pp. XX. -f pp. 400, f 101 figures of birds, and 

 139 vignettes. 



The first edition was printed on paper of three different 

 sizes, viz., imperial, royal, and demy 8vo, that of the latter 

 size being of two qualities, thick and thin. The publishing 

 prices were 21s., 18s., 13s., and 10s. 6d. respectively, and 

 of the imperial paper copies (of the first issue) only 

 twenty-four were printed. The prices of the second 

 volume being 24s., 18s., and 12s. Of the first volume 

 of the " British Birds " there were two issues, both 

 bearing the same date, viz., 1797; the second issue being, 

 ^however, printed in 1798. The first issue may be 

 determined from the fact that on the reverse of page 335 

 the third edition of " Bewick's Quadrupeds " is announced, 

 while in the second, the fourth is advertised.* 



The success of the " History of British Birds " was 

 immediate and complete, six editions were issued in 

 Bewick's lifetime, and in the year 1847, an eighth, f 

 edited by John Hancock with great skill, and containing 

 some twenty extra tail-pieces, which Bewick had 

 executed for a projected " History of British Fishes," 



* For further particulars, c/. Newton, "■ Diet. Birds," Introd., p. 20. 



t Dates of the eight editions of Bewick's " Birds " are as follows : — 

 1st, 1797-1804; 2nd, 1805; 3rd, 1809; 4th, 1816; 5th, 1821 (with 

 Supplement); 6th, 1826; 7th, 1832; 8th and last, 1847. 



