not observed in the British Isles .' 
83 
but it is remarkable that the regard in which they are held is 
exactly proportionate to the knowledge they possessed of exotic 
forms. 
The idea of a work relating only to those European birds which 
do not occur in this country had, if we mistake not, been enter¬ 
tained by two or three of our ornithologists. Whether they or 
Mr. Bree would have performed the author's part best, we do 
not care to inquire. He is first in the field, nay, at present alone 
there, and therefore entitled to our undivided support. We have 
little doubt that the low price of his book—to say nothing of 
the mode of publication, which spreads even this small expense 
over a considerable period of time—will obtain for it a very ex¬ 
tended sale, and will, we trust, make the subjects of it extremely 
popular. We do not look for a scientific work—we even fear 
we must be content to accept error for truth occasionally; for 
though we fully believe Mr. Bree to be a pains-taking man, 
heartily desirous of performing his self-imposed duties with 
credit to his reputation and satisfaction to his subscribers, yet, 
as the most honest man will now and then prove an unjust judge 
if he be not a good lawyer, so we are afraid that Mr. Bree's 
very best intentions have not always saved him from mistakes, 
into which, perhaps, a man better up in his subject, even with less 
conscientious striving after accuracy, would never have fallen. 
We have a right to expect that Mr. Bree should, as his pro¬ 
spectus announces, carefully collate his information from the 
best authors; and on the whole we think he has done so; but 
that he should be exempt from the common failing of compilers, 
is of course not to be hoped for. 
The seven parts of Mr. Bree's work already published contain 
the European non-British Vulturidce and Falconidce. We do not 
wish to prejudge the remainder of the book, but we cannot but 
feel a lurking suspicion that we may have seen the best portion 
of it. Mr. Bree has fortunately obtained the assistance of one 
whose knowledge of the Raptorial Order is unquestionably su¬ 
perior to that of any other man. An attentive reader of ‘ The 
Birds of Europe not observed in the British Isles 3 will have no 
difficulty in recognizing the suggestions and ideas of Mr. John 
Henry Gurney in many places where no mention is made of that 
o 2 
