374 The Zoologist — Skptember, 1866. 



character of the work itself: Bewick's figures are referred to by Mon- 

 tagu, and of these representalious il is impossible to speak too highly : 

 many of the birds he has depicted i have never seen living, and there- 

 fore can pronounce no opinion as to the truthfulness of their positions, 

 but a large proportion of the birds figured by Bewick are faoiiliar to 

 all, and the figures are more like instantaneous photographs of living 

 creatures than the result of pencil-work in an artist's studio. They are 

 almost miraculous, and show how forcibly the form and action of each 

 bird must have impiessed itself on the draughtsman's memory. Of the 

 letterpress of the work which bears Bewick's name the truest kindness 

 to that honoured memory will be shown by passing it over in 

 silence. 



" 3rd. Following the reference to Yarrell's figure of the bird, is one 

 to Bewitson's figure of the egg : the accuracy of these figures, carefully 

 drawn and exquisitely coloured, leaves nothing to be desired. The 

 third edition of the 'Oology' is cite<l in every instance. 



"4th. In the descriptions of the rarer species, I have quoted from 

 the ' Zoologist' additional instances of their occurrence : many similar 

 records occur in the 'Field' newspaper, but are not cited when the 

 communications are anonymous. 



" All these additions are distinguished from Colonel Montagu's text 

 by editorial brackets, and iu every instance the source whence they 

 Lave been derived is carefully indicated. 



" Notwithstanding the pains I have taken to collect and incorporate 

 these various records, 1 am bound in fairness to state that I regard a 

 great number of the species now added, as well as of those described 

 by Montagu, as not having the slightest claim to the title of British 

 birds. 1 confess this seems something like building a house of cards 

 and blowing it down again. My duty, however, seems to me very 

 plain. Like my great predecessor, 1 have collected and arranged these 

 records ; and, like him, 1 express the opinion that in a purely scientific 

 point of view they are utterly worthless. The time seems to have 

 arrived when the conscientious compiler must eliminate all these inter* 

 lopers. 



" I believe the utmost injury has resulted to Science in this country 

 from the desire to multiply the number of our species : naturalists have 

 sought to effect this in more ways than one ; in many instances the 

 differential characters of age, sex and season have been urged on our 

 attention ; but in still more, the productions of other countries have 

 been recorded as our own. The dealer holds himself excused in this; 



