1 8 3 
lege of phyficians, lie was chofen librarian, and had 
apartments in the college. This office was peculiarly 
agreeable to his tade and inclination, as he had the 
opportunity of a condant recourfe to> a valuable libra-* 
ry, filled with fcarce and curious books on the fub- 
jedls of natural hiflory, which he fo affiduouily dudied. 
By degrees he became one of the mod eminent orni- 
thologifls in this, or any other country. His merit is 
fo well known in this relpedt, as to render any eulogi- 
ran on his performances unneceffary : but it may be 
obferved, that he never trufled to others what he 
could perform himfelf; and often found it fo difficult 
to give fatisfadlion to his own mind, that lie fre¬ 
quently made three or four drawings to delineate the 
objedl in its mod lively character, attitude, and 
reprefentation* 
In 1745 the fird volume of the Hidory of Birds* 
was publifhed in Quarto, on royal paper, containing 
fixty one birds, and two quadrupeds, mod of which 
had neither been delineated nor defcribed, engraved 
on fifty two plates from original drawings, exadlly 
coloured, with full and accurate defcriptions. 
This volume is dedicated to the prefident and fel¬ 
lows. of the royal college of Phyficians, whole favours 
and 
