THOMAS BEWICK. 



89 



uninked impression. This, however, can never be so entirely done as to 

 deceive a careful observer. In the 1805 and later editions the design is 

 materially altered, and the most indelicate part taken away, and all are 

 therefore without the ink stain. 



The fine block of the Turkey, given in fac-simile on page 9, like the 

 Pheasant, the Cock, and the succeeding design of the Peacock, is carefully 

 drawn and powerfully executed ; the delicate colouring of the head and neck 

 being simply wonderful, while the dark-tinted foreground helps to give effect 

 to the half-tints of the rest of the design. The Peacock is one of the largest 

 of the blocks. The details are marvellously minute, while the engraving is 

 delicate, though there is scarcely enough aerial perspective shown in the 

 background. The deep tone of the head and breast, with their fine flowing 

 lines, makes this cut at once commanding and pleasing. 



The Pintado seems in the design to be much larger than it is in reality. 

 It appears nevertheless, from the following interesting note, given by Hugo 

 in his " Collector," to have been drawn from life : — " Bewick drew this bird 

 from a living specimen at Elswick Hall, near Newcastle. Accompanied by 

 his daughter Jane, then a child, he made the sketch whilst out walking 

 between five and six o'clock on a fine summer morning. The gate of the 

 yard being fast, he had to climb over the wall to obtain an entrance, and has 

 represented this incident in the background to the cut. Though very minute, 

 the resemblance to himself of the figure on the wall is quite perfect." * 



The Partridge given on the next page is from a copy by John Jackson. 

 This is a cut which may be looked on as one of those more peculiarly 

 characteristic of Bewick. The form is perfect, the position easy, and the 

 down and feathers as downy and feathery as nature itself. 



The Quail is a remarkable little gem, delightfully varied in light and 

 shade. The Plovers, though usually placed among the water birds, are 

 inserted here because the editors " cannot help considering the greater part of 



* The note is signed R. Robinson. 



