The Willow Wren. " The History of British Birds," Vol. I. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



"THE HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS," VOL. I. 1 797- (LAND BIRDS.) 



TN the arrangement of the volumes of the "History of British Birds" 

 Bewick acted differently and more discreetly than with the Quadrupeds. 

 It was his intention at one time to make a General History of the bird 

 creation, after the style of that of the four-footed animals.* But this 

 would have had a much wider area than the Quadrupeds, and if there 

 were difficulties found in obtaining specimens of these, that embarrass- 

 ment was greatly increased with the birds. It is also to be observed 

 that a History of British Birds comprehends a more varied scheme than 

 any History of British Quadrupeds can do, and by pressing into service 

 every feathered visitant to these islands, Bewick was able to fill two volumes 



* The preface to the Engravings of the Land Birds, published separately in 1800, says, with reference to the 

 fourteen foreign birds which are added there, that they " were originally intended for a General History of Birds, 

 but the design, comprehending a work of too great magnitude, was laid aside." 



