96 
Mr. Breeds ‘Birds of Europe 
rate. The representations of the Gyrfalcon, Saker, and Lanner 
are reduced copies of Mr. Wolf's illustrations in the f Traite de 
Fauconnerie' of Messrs. Schlegel and Verster de Wulverhorst, 
and, notwithstanding the translation which they have undergone, 
still retain much of their original spirit. Next to these come 
the drawings by Mr. Reeve, which have much merit. We before 
noticed the incorrectness of the figure of the Imperial Eagle ; but 
the worst figure of all is that of the Eleonora Falcon, which is so 
unhappy-looking, as to remind one of the attempts at drawing 
birds made a hundred years ago. We regret that we cannot 
praise the plates which represent eggs. We think the fault must 
lie in the process of engraving, which does not seem at all ap¬ 
plicable to the representation of such delicate objects. Not 
one of the figures possesses any distinctive characters. But far 
more serious than this evil, is, we fear, the principle on which 
Mr. Bree has proceeded, with regard to the specimens or drawings 
from which the plates are taken. 
The offer of assistance from M. Moquin-Tandon has been, in 
our opinion, productive of anything but real benefit to the work. 
Our author says that the figure of the egg of the Booted Eagle 
is from a drawing furnished by the distinguished French natu¬ 
ralist just named, who observes, “ This egg was sent to me from 
the Spanish Pyrenees by a seller of skins. I thought for some 
time that it belonged to the Common Buzzard, or else the Rough¬ 
legged Buzzard; but on comparing it with two drawings, quite 
recently published by M. Badeker (pL 1. fig. 3), I discovered that 
I had not been deceived." Now here is just one of those cases, 
which bring the study of Oology, and very justly, into more dis¬ 
credit than any other thing. M. Moquin-Tandon's egg is very 
likely that of a Booted Eagle ; but where is the proof of the fact ? 
Absolutely, as we read it, there is none. This gentleman buys 
an egg of a dealer, who we suppose sells it to him under the 
above name. It is, if it is fairly represented, a nice-looking egg, 
just about the right size, and slightly mottled with pale reddish 
brown. But “ How like a Common Buzzard's !—how like a 
Rough-legged Buzzard's !—how like fifty other eggs !—what a 
pity !—there must be a mistake—I have been cheated," he says. 
“But wait: here is the first number of Prof. Badeker's work; let us 
