APPENDIX. 



AN ORNITHOLOGICAL LETTER TO WILLIAM 

 SWAINSON, ESQ. F.R.S. 



Sir, 



I have a crow to pluck with you. As we are both 

 bird-men, the operation will cost us but little time and 

 trouble. 



A recent letter from Philadelphia refers me to your 

 History and Classification of Birds. "By the by," 

 says the writer of the letter, " this knight of the sublime 

 theory of circles (alluding to you) speaks rather dispa- 

 ragingly of the Yorkshire squire, whom he terms an 

 Amateur." 



I have borrowed your book, and on looking into it I 

 find that you have introduced the names of a vast num- 

 ber of those who have written on birds. Of all these 

 you have made friendly — of mine alone unfriendly — ■ 

 mention. 



I am, beyond doubt, the person alluded to in your 

 complaint of unjustifiable personalities against Mr. Au- 

 dubon ; and I am the Amateur who went to Demerara 

 merely to procure perfect skins ; neglecting " all which 

 could be truly beneficial to science.'' My invaluable 

 prescription for the preservation of objects in Natural 

 History has received a solemn anathema from your 

 mouth. You tell the world that I seem to think it a 

 " modern discovery, ;" but lest there should be any merit 



