ORNITHOLOGY IN 1850. 
IN commencing another year of ‘Contributions,’ it may be of 
use to our readers to run shortly over what has been accomplished 
in Ornithology during the last twelve months in our own country. 
It isa remarkable fact, that although the working and scientific 
ornithologists of Great Britain can only rank comparatively as a 
small band, and that the science generally has not got into the 
circle of those considered fashionable, more Ornithological works of 
large size, and of an illustrated and expensive character, have been 
Patronised and published than in any other branch of Zoology, and it 
's only in Botany where there has been any approach to it. What is 
the cause of this, and how are they supported? for they do not find 
their way into all the public libraries, and few private individuals 
“n afford them. Nevertheless, during the last thirty years, we have 
ada great mass of Ornithological works of unrivalled magnificence 
and fidelity of illustration, annually appearing and brought to a com- 
See We have only to state as examples, the British Birds of 
dine. Selby, Hsq., two folio yolumes of coloured plates ; Sir W. Jar- 
ie ae P. J. Selby’s Illustrations of Foreign Ornithology, begun 
f va when that branch had waned almost to extinction ; Au- 
ee " Birds of America, commenced under Edinburgh auspices, 
ose artists first recognised the merits of the ‘“‘ Woodman’s” 
Pengj] .* : 
il;* all the Government publications, from the Northern 
* ' 
Sin Sus 
the N, ee writing the above, we regret to observe the following announcement from 
ew York Herald :-— 
servedly Re IaFON THE ORNITHOLOGIST.—John James Audubon, the de- 
Tesidence on the res nae died in New York, on the 27th of January, at his 
© of seventy-ci S of the Hudson river, in 155th street. He had arrived at the 
“tong the ne “tx, and has gone down to the grave, leaving a name distinguished 
‘entific men of every nation, a name earned by a steady perseverance 
™ the beauti 
dgmen eta field of Ornithology, the cultivation of which demands fancy, taste, 
ih nea general love of nature.” 

