text:  Since that kindred spirit Gilbert White the first English naturalist who studied the habits of living birds in the open air instead of describing the colours of the plumage of stuffed specimens in cabinets we have had no one who has investigated the economy of animals and particularly of that most beautiful class of the animal kingdom the birds so thoroughly _con amore_ as Mr Waterton in this and his preceding publications--identifying himself (it may almost be said) with their _feelings_ and idiosyncrasies and vindicating them from the aspersions thrown upon them in the writings of closet-naturalists with the indignant zeal of a champion whose heart and soul is in the cause of injured innocence