CATALOGUR OF THE STRIGES, OR NOCTURNAL BIRDS, &c. 221 
species are figured, and produced as these figures have been 
under Mr. Sharpe’s own skilled supervision, they are probably 
amongst the most satisfactory yet given to the world; certainly 
we have never seen any plates that pleased us more than those 
of Scops magicus and guatemale. 
To the majority of our Indian readers, who have to work 
far away from museums or libraries, this work of Mr. 
Sharpe’s will be simply invaluable. Doubtless even these 
volumes are still far from complete, and despite all conceivable 
care still probably embody many errors, but this in the present 
state of the science of ornithology was unavoidable, and we 
have no doubt, that they are, on the whole, as perfect as they 
could possibly have been made without iordinately delaying 
their publication. 
I would lay particular stress upon this latter point, because 
some ornithologists writing to us from Europe have expressed 
a regret that Mr. Sharpe is “in such a hurry to issue his 
catalocue.” To those ornithologists, comparatively few in 
number, who already possess for the elucidation of their diffi- 
‘culties, all those facilities which the world’s capitals afford, this 
may be a natural view, but by the great majority—the workers 
by flood and fell, the men who are gathering bricks for the 
temple of science far a field—Mr. Shary pe’s courageous resolve 
to get out his work with the least possible delay even at the 
risk of leaving some few blemishes in it, will be accounted 
one of his most especial merits. 
Thirsty workers in a desert, they want water, and water at 
once. It is all very well for those who “live at home at ease” 
to spy out a speck or two here and there, and blame the water 
carrier for not having delayed to filter it again and again, 
but those who really lack the draught, care little for this, and 
too thankful for the boon conferred to carp at petty defects, 
feel unalloyed gratitude to him who has succoured their need, 
and succoured it so promptly. 
An eminent ornithologist writes to us that in his “ opinion 
Mr. Sharpe would have better consulted his own reputation 
had he kept back these catalogues some few years,’ and_per- 
haps in a certain very limited sense of “ reputation,” this may, 
as regards the immediate present, be to a certain extent true. 
No one however is better aware of this fact than our author 
himself, but he deliberately prefers the interests of his favourite 
science to any temporary reputation of his own. Let who 
will find fault, he is quite content so long as he satisfies, as 
quickly and as thoroughly as possible, the urgent want for 
information (of the very nature supplied by ‘these volumes) 
which is harassing every working ornithologist, out of Europe 
and the United States. 
