Mr. GOULD, whose splendid work of Himalayan Birds we an-
nounced as having been completed, a short time back, has now brought out the First Part of one equally beautiful, of The Birds of Europe; which is calculated to be still more popular, on account of the interest that belongs to birds with which we are acquainted. It consists of twenty coloured plates, the figures mostly the size of life, with letter- press descriptions giving an account of the habits of the different spe- cies, their migrations, and various changes of plumage ; the most in- teresting of which will also be illustrated in the plates. Of the twenty plates in each quarterly part, fifteen are devoted to the British birds, and five to those of the Continent of Europe. The plates before us are lively and artist-like delineations of birds, most of them familiar to even casual observers of nature, though of a rarer species perhaps than ordinary. A want of skill in the drawing, and the absence of appro- priate action and expression, has been, until within these few years, felt, and was indeed a capital defect in works of natural history—those even of a standard character. But here the science of the naturalist and the taste of the artist are combined; and the birds are figured with the minutest accuracy of form and colour, and at the same time in at- titudes varied and characteristic, and with all the appearance of 'anima- tion. In turning over the plates, we are struck with the beauty, rich- ness, and variety of plumage which the birds display, and which we scarcely thought had belonged to those of this country. Indeed, one great benefit of a work of .this description, is that, by attracting the admirer of pictures to its vivid portraits of the animal creation, it induces habits of observation,--reminding us how much we lose that is beautiful for want of a little attention and knowledge. In general, the male and female are figured in the same plate ; and at the completion of the work, the various species, all of which are to be included, will be arranged under the different genera. To those who have seen Mr. Goutn's drawings of the Himalayan Birds, we need only say that the British Birds are executed in the same style of excellence, both as regards the lithographing, by Mrs. GOULD, whose assiduity and per- severance are as admirable as her skill and talent, and the colouring by BAYFIELD, which is so pure, rich, and delicate as to give to the plates the appearance of water colour drawings. The descriptions of each bird are at once concise and comprehensive, scientifically accurate, and popular in style. Mr. SCHLOSS, of St. Martin's Lane, announces a series of Illustra- tions r, f the Surry Zoological Gardens, drawn from the life and on stone by W. H. KEARNEY; the first part to appear in July, and to be con- tinued monthly.
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