OnNlTHOLOGY OF ASIA. 
209 
every one who can afford a few books on his favourite 
pursuit. The original echtion of Montagu’s Orn itho- 
logical Dictionary is a standard authority, nor must 
Bewdck’s British iiirds be forgotten, although the fi gures, 
however teautiful as w’orks of art, are on too small a 
scale for the determination of doubtful species. Many 
other works on British ornithology, either original or 
compiled, have lately appeared, and more are announced. 
We fully concur with Mr. Selby, in considering that the 
“ union of conciseness and perspicuity, with a plain di- 
dactic style, is that in which all works on scientific sub- 
jects should be written.” 
(176.) The ornithology of Asia has only of late re- 
ceived some portion of that attention it so greatly 
demands. Le Vaillant, indeed, has devoted a part of 
one of his volumes to the horn-bills, a family almost 
peculiar to this region ; and the title of his work leads 
us to suppose he contemplated a much fuller account of 
the rare birds of India. Dr. Horsfield has added con- 
siderably to our knowledge of the animals of Java, par- 
ticularly of its birds, in a pajrer inserted in the Linurean 
Transactions, and in a separate work. Mr. Gould has 
published, in a costly volume, many new and magni- 
ficent birds from the Himalaya mountains. There are 
also a few birds in the published collection of General 
Hardwicke’s Indian drawings, but as most of them are 
designed by native artists, no great degree of accuracy 
or of finish can be expected. There is still wanting a 
complete work on the general ornithology of this eastern 
hemisphere, ivorthy alike of the splendour of the sub- 
jects, of the present state of zoological painting, and 
of the munificence of that body of princely patrons 
under whose fostering care so much has been done to 
illustrate the civil and natural history of our oriental 
possessions. Whether, under the present adverse cir- 
cumstances of the Honourable East India Company, 
they have now the means of patronising such a work, is 
very doubitful ; but it certainly would be vain to attempt 
it, exceptng under their auspices. The birds of Africa 
