It is also quite entrancing. It has attempted to bring together for the first time accounts of the discovery of each of a whole series of Australian mammals, birds, reptiles and fish – in all some 15 mammals or groups of mammals, 25 birds, 8 reptiles and 5 fish are displayed in their historical context. For each animal there are given a few straight details about its natural history but then comes the novel material. A diligent search has been made for accounts such as the first sighting and capture, the first published description, popular misconceptions and best of all some splendid except that here it becomes one item of a prevailing and many tiered slackness. them in colour.

These illustrations often display strange distortions. It is possible that the distortions demonstrate, not so much a want of skill on the part of the delineator but rather the fact that accurate portrayal often requires a degree of familarity with the subject. And these subjects were anything but familiar. They were very strange subjects indeed. I recommend to you the two wombat pictures and the delicious coloured picture on p. 30 of a kangaroo up an oak tree passing oak leaves to two kangarooettes perched in its pouch. And then of course there is that Cruikshanks picture of ‘Escaped Kangaroo at Regent’s Park’ and a reproduction of an early handbill advertising ‘The Wonderful Kanguroo from Botany Bay’ ... ‘to enumerate its extraordinary Qualities would far exceed the common Limits of a Public Notice. Let it suffice to observe, that the Public in general are pleased and bestow their Plaudits; the Ingenious are delighted; the Virtuoso and Connoisseur are taught to admire: impressing the Beholder with Wonder and Astonishment, at the Sight of this unparalleled Animal from the Southern Hemisphere, that almost surpasses Belief; therefore Ocular Demonstration will exceed all that Words can describe, or Pencil delineate ...’ All of which could well be said of this book itself. There should be more books like it and if it sells well, no doubt there will be.