42 
MEMOIR OP 
which, after the usual displays of Prospectuses, 
Advertisements, &c. &c., he was enabled with ex- 
traordinary exertions to bring out the first volume 
as a specimen, — the superb appearance of which 
dazzled the lovers of the Fine Arts, as much as 
the literary department charmed Wilson’s most de- 
voted admirers ; — such a performance, emanating 
from the American Press, was esteemed the more 
wonderful, seeing it was the production of a coun- 
try yet almost altogether in its infancy. The 
Work, as might be supposed, met with appro- 
bation and success far beyond his most sanguine 
hopes, which decided him on undertaking several 
very extensive and fatiguing journeys in search of 
new subscribers, and also additional materials for 
its completion, but which our limits will not per- 
mit us to give in detail. We cannot, however, 
proceed much farther with this memoir, without 
laying before our readers a portion of one of his 
excellent descriptions, in his own words, as an 
example of that happy style, which has the great 
merit of uniting both elegance and interest with 
perfect scientific detail. 
“ BLUE JAY . — COR VUS CRISTA TUS. 
“ This elegant bird, which, ns far as I can learn, 
is peculiar to North America, is distinguished as a 
kind of beau among the feathered tenants of our 
woods, by the brilliancy of his dress; and, like 
most other coxcombs, makes himself still more con- 
