:Mar., 1913 
WILLI a:m leox dawsox— a biography 
67 
one to whom the rather dry and formal style of the usual “state list” would ap- 
pear to be extremely dull and uninteresting'. To produce an artistic and attrac- 
tive set of books, filled with beautiful illustrations and containing text which pre- 
sents the subject matter in pleasing and novel style, is to popularize the subject 
of ornithology in a way undreamed of and impossible of attainment to the self- 
centered specialist, intent on his own particular line of study. 
Those who have followed Mr. Dawson’s work cannot fail to have been im 
pressed by the originality of his style, and by the pleasing manner of treatment. 
It is given to but few writers on this or kindred subjects to say their say in such 
a way as to hold the reader’s attention regardless of the fact as to whether or not 
he is particularly interested in the branch of science treated. Among the older 
writers on birds Audubon and Wilson at once spring into the mind as having 
owed their fame to this peculiar gift more, perhaps, than to any other of their ac- 
Fig. 17. The Gateway, Los Colibris 
complishments. Cones, also, wonderfully attractive writer that he was, had to 
perfection the faculty of drawing a pleasing and fanciful sketch of a bird, and by 
means of most imaginative similes and comparisons, presenting an absolutely 
lifelike and accurate picture. 
It is no disparagement of the many able and conscientious bird students of 
today to say that, however thorough and accurate their ])ulilished writings may 
be, there are but very few who have this gift of holding the interest of the gen- 
eral public. Where we do find this faculty it is the duty, and most decidedly to 
the interest, of all ornithologists to see that the fortunate writer is given the ut- 
most opportunity to use his talent to the best advantage. 
In all of Mr. Dawson’s work the feeling borne by a true lover of books as 
such toward a beautiful edition is very apparent. A cheap book has nothing to 
recommend it in his eyes, an attitude which has resulted in “patrons’ editions” 
