t 48 ] 



where he has mentioned the authors from whom 

 he colleded them. The Memoirs of the Aca- 

 demy Royal of Paris, on fuch an occafion, ought 

 alfo to be confulted, where fomething new may 

 be colleéted. Mr. Catejby^ in his Hiftory of Ca- 

 rolina, &c. hath figured and defcribed upwards 

 of a hundred rare birds, the greateft part of 

 which would come into a new hiftory, be- 

 ing moftly non-defcripts. Alhin hath publifhed 

 a great many, I think upwards of 300 figures ; 

 but, they being chiefly co\\ed:ed homPFilkugbby, 

 a compiler muft look cautioufly on him ; what 

 new birds he has worthy of any notice are from 

 Mr. Dandridge's colledion, the originals of which 

 I have feen, and could wifli Albinos copies after 

 them had been better; for what is well done 

 after nature itfelf will be always valuable. Albin 

 has given fome draughts of birds, which, he 

 fays, were from Sir nomas Lowther*s colledlion ; 

 but I am very doubtful as to them, they being 

 taken from drawings done by fome very mean 

 peformer, which Albin has not thought proper 

 to confefs. By accident I happened to meet 

 with fome of thefe drawings, which has confirm- 

 ed me in the truth of what I fay. The natural 



hiftories 



