PLATE LIX. 



of consideration ; it need be scarcely added after this remark, that 

 /i Las l;Gcn our only aim, without the least 

 regard to those improvements in the design or execution which would 

 have rendered them more pleasing but less faithful representations 

 of the originals. 



The upper figures are copied from a Chinese drawing ; they 

 collectively exhibit a group of those animals, and which from every 

 indication we are to regard as a whole family, including the male, 

 female, and young. The male is represented as the foremost object 

 of the group ; he bears a sword or scimitar in his hand, and which, 

 according to the known custom of China, is borne in the left hand. 

 However coarse the execution of those figures, there is a commend- 

 able delicacy in attitude of this animal ; we at once perceive, from 

 the weapon of defence which he carries, that in this figure we see 

 the individual which the Chinese artist intended for the male. The 

 same delicacy is observable in the other figures ; the female bears a 

 little bough of fruit in her hand which sufficiently contrasts with the 

 sword in the hand of the male, and the minor being, led by the female 

 parent, is obviously intended for the infant animal her offspring. 



In admitting this group to afford us no very favourable idea of 

 the talents of the Chinese artist to whom we are indebted for the 

 delineation, the naturalist will not lose sight of another consideration 

 far more important ; he will perceive some interesting traits of the 

 mind of the artist, where the efforts of the pencil have failed to excite 

 his praise ; he will trace in this group the conceptions of the artist 

 as to the manners and habits of life presumed to be pursued by 

 those animals, and will hence deduce that the opinions entertained of 



