Abstract
I ADMIT that I did not observe the phrase which Mr. Selous quotes from his book. But supposing that he can quote half-a-dozen such, I cannot allow that my observations to which he takes exception contain any injustice to him or real misstatement of fact. I would commend to Mr. Selous Dr. Samuel Johnson's sound remark concerning a quite analogous statement. An orchard, observed the Doctor, would be properly described as barren of fruit, even if subsequent research discovered a dozen apples and pears upon two or three trees. Now Mr. Selous' book is called “Beautiful Birds.” It is not called “Birds.” It is clear, too, what Mr. Selous means by “beautiful.” His plates and the greater part of his descriptions deal with the Paradiseidæ, Humming Birds, and other birds which everyone calls beautiful. I do not find chapter after chapter relating to partridges, quails, sparrows, and other “plain” birds.
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B., F. Beautiful Birds. Nature 65, 392 (1902). https://doi.org/10.1038/065392e0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/065392e0
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