226 
while the most unqualified praise is bestowed upon the Prince of Musignano, for 
his additions to Wilson’s Birds , which are “ exceedingly scarce volumes,” and 
were never “ offered for sale poor Bewick, whose admirable figures of British 
Birds gave an impetus to the study of native ornithology never before effected by 
the most splendid Planches Enluminees —is cursorily passed by as not to be “ for¬ 
gotten,” and Mudie’s volumes are unmentioned. There is also an unfairness in 
obviously alluding to a person without mentioning his name, a littleness that every 
candid mind must disclaim. Why, then, is Audubon’s controversy with Water- 
ton, about the sense of smell in the Vulture noticed, but Waterton’s name avoided? 
“ Amateurs,” it is stated at p. 211, have often visited Demerara, “whose sole ob¬ 
ject seems to have been that of procuring perfect skins : as to the habits of the 
birds themselves, their structure, or their classic names, we know almost as little 
about them as if they never existed.” This passage obviously alludes to Mr. 
Waterton’s well known Wanderings , where it has always struck us that the neg¬ 
lect of scientific names was to be deplored. But at the same time, is no idea of 
the glorious productions of that splendid region obtained from the Wanderings ? 
We surely see the Coutinghas and the Humming-birds, if we cannot classify them, 
and the measured note of the Bell-bird rings even now upon our ears from the 
depths of the humid forests. At all events, to condemn an author by implication, 
and yet ingeniously avoid naming either him or his work, appears to us an act of 
injustice, which, whether proceeding from friend or foe, we will ever honestly 
expose. As to the Prince of Musignano, we cannot consider that author the 
greatest benefactor of mankind who publishes works, however admirable, which 
are unattainable except to a favoured few, who shew them as they would shew a 
wild animal they were afraid to lose, within the inclosure of a brazen lattice. 
But let us touch upon more pleasing matters with respect to “ the butterflies 
of vertebrated animals,” as Mr. Swainson somewhat strangely denominates birds. 
Following up this idea, we presume it is suggested that birds with concealed crests, 
that can be shut or expanded at pleasure, use them as decoys for their insectivo¬ 
rous prey. As this is a new idea, and deserves investigation, we present Mr. 
Swainson’s observations on the subject in his own words, and it will give an idea 
of his powers of reasoning:— 
“ These crests are generally either of a bright yellow, red, or golden colour; 
sometimes, though very rarely, white. If the feathers of the crown, which are 
not conspicuously elongated, are laid perfectly smooth, the crest does not appear, 
although its presence is sometimes indicated by a slight streak of the same colour. 
When the bird, however, is excited, the central feathers of the crown suddenly 
expand, radiate almost in a circle, and display what is often a most beautiful and 
striking ornament. The bright colours of the crest, in fact, are only at the roots 
of the feather, which are all tipt with the ordinary colour of the plumage ; so that 
when these are expanded they are no inapt representation of the opening petals of 
