ornithologist's text-book. 53 



last plate in the number we do not like : it repre- 

 sents a very large cone, which is described for the 

 first time, and named Conns Nicollii" 



Ornithologia. Second edition, 1829, and Plea- 

 sures of Ornithology, by James Jennings. 12mo. 

 15s. 1828. 



We never had the misfortune to meet with a 

 book so full of errors — both of the author and 

 printer — as the Ornithologia. We do not admire 

 the plan of introducing science into poetry at all, 

 but never did we behold anything less like either 

 poetry or science than in this work, and we certainly 

 never met with anything more unpleasant than 

 Jennings's Pleasures of Ornithology. We should 

 have considered such a work beneath our notice, 

 as it is impossible it can have the smallest connec- 

 tion with the advancement of Ornithology, had we 

 not been desirous of preventing so gross a violation 

 of the Muse for the future. As a specimen of the 

 work, we select, at random, the following lines 

 " to the Cuckoo :"— 



" Thou monotonous Bird ! whom we ne'er wish away, — 

 Who hears thee not pleas'd at the threshold of May ? 

 The advent reminds us of all that is sweet, 

 Which Nature benignant, now lays at our feet ; — 

 Sweet flowers — Sweet meadows — Sweet birds, and their loves • 

 Sweet sunshiny mornings, and sweet shady groves ; — 

 Sweet smiles of the maiden — Sweet looks of the youth, 

 And sweet asseverations, too, prompted by truth j 

 Sweet promise of plenty throughout the rich dale ; 

 And sweet the Bees' hiimming in meadow and vale ; 

 Of the Summer's approach — of the presence of Spring, 

 For ever, sweet Cuckoo ! continue to sing. 

 Oh who then, dear Bird ! could e'er wish thee away ? 

 Who hears thee not pleas'd at the threshold of May ? 



E 3 



