n8 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



when circumstances were favourable. It is scarcely credible, indeed, 

 that the same hand did some of those immediately preceding, and there 

 must, at least, have been a long time between their execution. In the 

 Common Antelope, which is reproduced on page 117, there is correct 

 drawing, action, and colour; the rotundity of the form and the intelligence 

 of the eye leave nothing to be desired ; and the foliage makes up a very 

 pretty engraving. The cut of the two little animals, the Chevrotain and 

 Meminna, a skilfully composed group, is succeeded by the large and fine 

 design of the Nyl-Ghau. This is signed, which is more than several of the 

 feeble ones are, and has received much attention from the engraver; the 

 gradations of light and shade are fine, the drawing excellent, and the 

 engraving, especially of the head, most carefully and powerfully attended to : 

 the cut is one which grows in quality with acquaintance, and deserves 

 close examination. The block of the Musk is not so satisfactory, and then 

 comes the terrible failure, the Giraffe, or Cameleopard. This must have been 

 drawn from a very badly stuffed specimen. At the time no giraffe had 

 been brought to England alive. The bend in the neck could never have 

 been drawn by one who knew there are but seven vertebrae in that part of the 

 body, the other joints are quite out of their sockets, and the figure is about as 

 ill drawn as it could be. Yet, with all these defects, there is one good point in 

 the design — the head — it having considerable animation. In the rear a couple 

 of Indians seek to compass the capture of two giraffes seen grazing, these 

 being more correctly drawn than the large figure.* The Elk is good in 

 many parts, notably the head, the whole giving a fair idea of the animal, and 

 is followed by the Reindeer, which was drawn from that done for Liddell 

 and Consett's " Tour through Lapland and Sweden." 



With the print of the Stag, or Red Deer, we return to those engravings 

 which give the great value to the series. It is a very beautiful design ; 



* The Giraffe in the 1824 edition is slightly different. 



