IV. 
ABovuT the very great merit of this 
work, there is but one opinion among 
competent judges. It is, indeed, a 
monument to the man’s indomitable 
energy and perseverance, and it is a 
monument to the science of ornithology. 
The drawings of the birds are very spir- 
ited and life like, and their biographies 
copious, picturesque, and accurate, and, 
taken in connection with his many jour- 
nals, they afford glimpses of the life of 
the country during the early part of the 
century, that are of very great interest 
and value. 
In writing the biography of the birds 
he wrote his autobiography as well; he 
wove his doings and adventures into his 
natural history observations. This gives 
@ personal flavour to his pages, and is 
the main source of their charm. 
His account of the Rosebreasted Gros- 
beak is a good sample of his work in this 
respect : 
