76 



" Eight years almost exclusively devoted to 

 Ornithology, more particularly that of Britain; 

 extensive acquaintance and constant communica- 

 tion with the most celebrated cultivators of this 

 branch of Natural History ; and resources in art 

 beyond those which have already given such uni- 

 versal satisfaction, insure to the author advantages 

 of no common extent. Assisted by experienced 

 collectors at all the most favourable localities, it 

 is intended that the artists employed on this work 

 shall have, as far as possible, a constant supply of 

 living, or very recently killed birds ; thus insuring 

 a degree of truth both of character and colouring, 

 which museum specimens, however well preserved, 

 can never supply. All the interesting periodical 

 changes of plumage will be particularly illustrated ; 

 and the author hopes to secure for this arduous 

 undertaking that degree of support which its merits 

 and execution will be found to deserve. 



" Each part to contain twenty plates, fifteen of 

 which will be devoted to the representation of 

 British birds, and five to those of the European 

 continent. The price of each part to subscribers 

 will be £S y to be paid for on delivery. 



" Subscribers desirous of possessing the British 

 birds only, are requested to signify their wishes ; 

 and the author, confidently anticipating the sup- 

 port of all the subscribers to the completion of the 

 work, pledges himself, in that case, to a regular and 

 equally perfect performance throughout. 



"Only 300 copies will be printed off; and the 

 work when complete will form two interesting and 

 handsome volumes of the land and water birds of 

 Europe. Portions of letterpress, forming together 

 a history of the subjects of the plates, and minutely 

 detailing the habits and manners of the species, 

 as well as describing and explaining the various 

 changes of their plumage, hitherto so imperfectly 



