Nature and Art, June 1, 1867.] 
MICHELET’S “ L’OISEAU.” 
187 
or number twenty. Long may it be before the ill-mannered 
Seine and its mischievous little chit, the Loing, again wet the 
feet of King Chasselas, and place him in danger of a chill, and 
may the good old lady of Thomery live a thousand years, 
and never again see a grape under water. Even without 
the Chasselas, Thomery would be well worth a visit, for it 
is unlike any other place we ever saw in France. There is 
no dirt in its vine-clad streets, we saw not a single dunghill, 
not a ditch or puddle, not a pig or a duck, though here and 
there a few genteel fowls of choice breeds, as clean and 
orderly as well bred ladies and gentlemen. There was 
scarcely a weed anywhere, or a single straw out of place, 
and yet Thomery is anything but formal. It is as irregular 
as an artist could desire, only there are no fine stilton 
cheese coloured walls, for they would create dust, and 
harbour all kinds of creeping things which could not be per- 
mitted in the dominions of King Chasselas. The only re- 
semblance we can find for Thomery is a charming village 
scene at the Opera, and nothing was required to complete the 
illusion, but bands of peasantry in silk and muslin, and 
strains of delicious music. Surely, there must be a day in 
the year when the good folks of Thomery put on holiday 
attire, keep high revel in honour of Bacchus and Pomona, 
triumphantly bear King Chasselas (in the form of the largest 
bunch of grapes of the season) to a throne hung with roses, 
perform before him the true danse des vendangewrs, and 
pledge each other in huge bowls of rosy juice fresh from the 
purple berries, unfermented, unadulterated, unalloyed. 
MICHELET’S “L’OISEAU.”* 
(Second Article.) 
W E could not easily find a prettier head-piece for this 
our second article than what Giacomelli has designed 
for the title-page of the Second Part of “ L’Oiseau.” 
There may be weakness in one or two of the bramble 
shoots ; but, on the whole, it is a dainty wreath. The 
* “L’Oiseau.” Par J. Michelet. Huitieme edition, illustree 
de 210 vignettes sur bois, dessinees par H. Giacomelli. 
Paris : Librairie de L, Hachette et Cie. 1867. 
lower group will be best appreciated by a mother who has 
had human chicks of her own to feed, the nursery-maid 
being out of the way. She will mark how the mother-bird 
is hurrying home with her prize ; and how two of those 
feathered children have scrambled out, each eager to be 
first ; while a third halts on the edge of the nest, less 
hungry, or more afraid of toppling over. They will soon 
follow their parents into the copses or meadows, and hunt 
for themselves amongst leaves or feathered grasses. We 
