OKNITHOLOGY IN 1851 . 
In pursuance of the plan to give a summary of Ornithological 
progress during the past year commenced with our last volume, 
we shall again endeavour to run over a short survey of what has 
been done by our own Ornithologists in 1851 . 
The all engrossing “ Exhibition” may have had some effect upon 
the time of Ornithologists, as well as upon that of other persons 
devoted to particular branches of science, for we cannot bring for- 
ward any thing very striking that has been done, any important 
new work commenced, or any remarkable species discovered, as the 
Notornis and Balamiceps of the previous year ; notwithstanding, 
however, the work has gone steadily on, and there appears to be no 
falling off in the zeal and activity of our collectors. 
It was not, perhaps, in the way of the “ Exhibition” itself, to 
advance Zoology by the bringing together of extensive collections, 
and nothing of novelty appeared there with the exception of some 
very beautiful specimens of bird-preserving. Mr. Hancock laudibly 
endeavours to render this more a work of true art, and to show that 
the poetry of design and composition might be combined with a 
faithful rendering of the position and attitude, beyond some polished 
stick, or mossed and sanded block, on which the specimen is perched 
up when it comes cc finished” out of the hands of the general taxider- 
mist ; while the Zollverein groups shewed, that expression and even 
humour could be imbued ; and were a little more attention given 
to the really natural expression and attitudes of the living animals, 
many interesting pictorial groups might be formed, which would 
illustrate manners and habits* better than most of the written ac- 
counts we possess. It was also to the expected crowds for the 
Exhibition that we were indebted for the fitting up and public 
admission to Mr. Gould’s extensive collection of Humming-Birds. 
No doubt they were open previously to any one interested ; but we 
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