THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 101 



the execution. It was originally rather a dear 

 work, but may now be obtained for 7s. 6d. a volume, 

 and sometimes even less. 



American Ornithology ; or the Natural History of the Birds of the 

 United States ; with a colored plate of each species. By Alexander 

 Wilson, 9 vols. 4to. Philadelphia, £25, 1808—13. 



This is truly an astonishing work. "What European 

 Naturalists had accomplished — no, not accomplish- 

 ed, attempted — during several centuries, our bold, 

 hardy, enthusiastic Scottish adventurer has executed 

 in magnificent style, and with apparent ease, within 

 the course of a few years, homeless, unassisted, and 

 alone. With the exception of the imperfect assis- 

 tance afforded by an American graver, Wilson 

 accomplished this work entirely alone. As if spurred 

 by his example, European Naturalists have, since 

 the appearance of this noble undertaking, bestirred 

 themselves, and produced works worthy the present 

 advanced state of science ; but Wilson was first 

 in the glorious race : nor has he yet been surpassed 

 in the accuracy, minuteness, fascination, and elo- 

 quence of his charming descriptions : nobly has 

 he won for himself the title of Prince of Orni- 

 thologists. The account of the Whiteheaded 

 Eagle is a perfect master piece of description and 

 composition, and the Woodpeckers, Warblers, &c. 

 are remarkably well depicted: there is no musty 

 smell of the museum in his lucrubations : you snuff 



