NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 87 



of conception. Much, therefore, is expected of the artist, and 

 the success of his illustrations must largely depend upon the 

 method of his work. So long as he is content to learn from 

 Nature, — to study her beautiful outlines, her infinite variety of 

 form, her sober harmonies and glorious contrasts of colour, trans- 

 cribing what she teaches with fidelity and patience, — so long will 

 he continue to approach perfection in his particular branch of 

 art. Unfortunately other influences combine to mar his efforts, 

 and to frustrate good intentions. Nothing is more detrimental 

 to art, more calculated to pervert talent, than what may be called 

 " the hurry of the age," the rapidity with which work is expected 

 to be conceived and executed. A young artist, not already 

 prepared with careful studies for what is wanted, may not have 

 time to repair at once to the fountain source of inspiration. He 

 must be content, alas ! to rely upon the work of others, which he 

 has to take upon trust for lack of sufficient experience to judge 

 of its merits ; to call in the aid of the photographer or the 

 taxidermist ; or to evolve something from his own " inner con- 

 sciousness," with no certain light to guide him. To the true 

 artist not one of these methods will commend itself. 



We have been led to these reflections on turning over the 

 pages of Mrs. Blackburn's sketches in the volume now under 

 notice, which shows us clearly what an advantage it is for science- 

 teaching when an artist is in a position to furnish faithful trans- 

 cripts from Nature, instead of resorting for illustrations to any of 

 the second-hand expedients above referred to. In saying this we 

 must not be understood to give unqualified praise to all Mrs. 

 Blackburn's productions. Her volume contains eighty-seven 

 lithographic plates of birds, from original sketches made by her 

 on or near the coast of Argyllshire, where she has long resided ; 

 but candour compels us to say that they are not all of equal 

 merit. In many, perhaps most of them, she has been very 

 successful in catching the characteristic attitude which so often 

 distinguishes a species amongst its fellows, and enables an 

 observer to identify it at a distance when too far off to perceive 

 its colour. There is no mistaking her young Kestrels and 

 Peregrines. The Bedwing and Song Thrush, which to many 

 people seem so much alike, are cleverly differentiated. The old 

 and young Cuckoos are faithfully delineated. The Spotted Fly* 

 catcher feeding its fledgling, the Blue Tit on the larch, and the 



