ornithologist's text-book. 203 



ment was adopted; as it proceeded, however, and 

 more light dawned upon the delightful study of 

 Ornithology, it was necessary to follow, in part, a 

 more modern system. This defect will be obviated 

 as much as possible by an index at the conclusion 

 of the work. 



" William C. Hewitson." 



We are perfectly sensible of the cogency of the 

 above remarks, but, had we stated 1841, instead of 

 1842, as the probable time of the conclusion of the 

 British Oology, our review had been perfectly fair. 

 We calculate the list of British birds, in round 

 numbers, to amount to 300 (there are actually 

 more), and as 141, or nearly half, had been figured 

 when we penned our notice, in five years, we might 

 justly infer — making allowances for interruptions — 

 that it would not be completed before the expira- 

 tion of other five years. We could not of course 

 be aware of the means Mr. H. possessed for pro- 

 curing the eggs of rare birds ; and as we under- 

 stand that the egg of the Alpine Annet (Curruca 

 collaris) will be figured in the May No., we had 

 good reason to suppose that the eggs of all our other 

 stragglers could be obtained. As it is, however, 

 our review was not quite fair, and we sincerely hope 

 Mr. H.'s review will set the matter in its right 

 light. In conclusion, we have only to express a 

 wish that our amiable and talented friend may 

 continue laying his eggs as regularly and success-* 

 fully as he has done for some time past 



