ornithologist's text-book. 63 



thor." It is astonishing in how short a time the, 

 author of the British Naturalist attained the po- 

 pularity he now enjoys. In the beginning of the 

 j*ear 1830 he was wholly unknown to the public 

 as an author, and now he is unquestionably the 

 first authority in everything relating to the haunts 

 and habits of British birds. Every Ornithologist 

 should possess the British Naturalist, 



Popular Guide to the observation of Nature, by 

 R. Mudie. London. 1832. 12mo. 6s. 6d. Whitta- 

 :ker and Co. 



Although this charming little volume contains 

 little directly relating to Ornithology, yet the stu- 

 dent will find it a great help to him in his obser- 

 vation of Nature. Some of our author's opinions 

 and theories are extremely anti-phrenological, but 

 it enters not into our province to notice these errors. 



Feathered Tribes of the British Islands, by R. 

 Mudie. London. Whittaker and Co. 2 vols. Post 

 8vo. 1834. £1. 8s. 



We have given short notices of the other works 

 of this author, in order to be enabled to do full 

 justice to this, his best and most important If 

 Mudie had only written the British Naturalist, 

 his name would have lived, but now he will be 

 ranked amongst the most eminent field observers 

 of this or any other country. The Feathered Tribes 

 is indeed an exquisite work, and unquestionably 

 the best that has yet appeared on the habits of our 

 native birds. — In short, it is only second to those 

 of Wilson and Audubon. We are extremely sorry 

 that our author has so restricted himself in his 



