92 Queries atid Answers, 



the present state of the science. I fear, Sir, I have already encroached on 

 the space allotted for others, and will therefore conclude by subscribing my- 

 self, Yours, &c. — T. E. Cambridge, Iiov.2l. 



Art. III. Queries and Answers. 



Bewick*s Relics. — Sir, Shortly after the death of Bewick, a paragraph 

 appeared in several of the London and provincial papers, copied, I believe, 

 originally from the Ti/?ie Mercury, which stated that " Mr. Bewick had left 

 unfinished a history of fishes, and a memoir of his own life, with portraits of 

 his friends, and a large cut of an old hunter, which was the last work he 

 employed himself upon only a few days before his death." Being a great 

 admirer of the works of this justly celebrated artist (painter, I may call him), 

 I should be glad to know whether the above statement is correct, and still 

 more, whether there is any chance of the relics alluded to being published. 

 Not one of the efforts of his wonderful genius should be lost to the world. 

 Perhaps Mr. Dovaston may be able to give the information required ; and, 

 by doing so, he would much oblige. Yours, &c. — W. T. Bree. Allesley Rec- 

 tory, Nov. m. 1829. 



P.S. Since writing the above, I have examined a copy of Bewick's Birds y 

 published in 1826, and I there find some species figured and described at the 

 end of the volumes, under the title of " Addenda," over and above those 

 which were published in the Supplement in 1821. The last edition of the 

 Quadrupeds also contains many cuts and vignettes which do not occur in the 

 early ones. Would it not be almost an act of justice to publish these ad- 

 denda in a separate volume, so as to enable the purchasers of the early edi- 

 tions to enjoy the benefit of them ? They might all be appended to what, I 

 hope, will, ere long, be given to the public under some such title as Bewick^ s 

 Remains; viz., a volume containing all the works the artist left unpublished 

 at the time of his death, including also such of the birds and quadrupeds, 

 and vignettes, as do not occur in the earlier editions of his works. There is 

 no doubt such a volume would sell ; and, I trust, his heirs or executors will 

 lose no time in taking it in hand. — W. T. B. 



Anatomical Preparations, it is said by some, are not kept in rectified spirits 

 of wine. Perhaps some of your readers will inform me whether any 

 other liquid be preferable on account of quality or price. — B. Maund, 

 Bromsgrove, Oct. 24. 1829. 



To preserve reptiles, three parts of distilled water may be added to one 

 part of alcohol ; or equal parts of rectified spirit of wine and distilled water 

 are preferable ; these proportions will be found sufficiently strong to pre- 

 serve reptiles or fishes, and have the additional advantage of not destroying 

 colours. I believe either of these mixtures will preserve anatomical pre- 

 parations. — Y.L. Nov. 2. 1829. 



The Black-headed Bmiting (in answer to T. G. Clithero, Vol. II. p. 289.)— 

 This I have always considered to be the reed bunting (Emberiza ASchceni- 

 clus, Beivick, vol. i. p. 176. edit. 6. 1826) found in the fens and marshes. 

 It may, probably, migrate into some other part of the kingdom, as I do not 

 recollect to have ever seen one in the winter. Another bird, called the 

 blackcap, is ikfotacOla Atricapilla, which is certainly a summer visitor. — 

 J. Lakes. Liskeard Vicarage, Cornwall, Aug.15. 1829. 



W/iat Bird is Muscicapa luctuosa (Vol. II. p. 274.) ? I can find none such 

 in Bewick. The only species known here is M. Grisola. — Id. 



Muscicapa luctuosa of Temminck is the Pied Flycatcher, Muscicapa Atri- 

 capilla of Linn. Gmel. and Latham. For an excellent figure see Bewick, 

 British Birds, vol. i. p. 207. I perceive you have already given a figure, Vol. I. 

 p. 331. — ^. r P. Nov. 2. 1829. 



