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WILLIAM LEON DAWSON--A BIOGRAPtI 67 Mar., 1913 one to whom the rather dry and formal style of the usual "state list" would ap- pear to be extremely dull and uninteresting. To produce an artistic and attrac- tive set of books, filled ?vith beautiful illustrations and containing text which pre- sents the subject matter in pleasing and novel style, is to popularize the subject of ornithology in a way undreamed of and impossible of attainment to the self- centered specialist, intent on his own particular line of study. Those ?vho have followed Mr. Dawson's ?vork cannot fail to have been im-- pressed by the originality of his style, and by the pleasing manner of treatment. It is given to but few writers on this or kindred subjects to say their say in such a way as to hold the reader's attention regardless of the fact as to whether or not he is particularly interested in the branch of science treated. Among the older writers on birds Audubon and Wilson at once spring into the mind as having owed their fame to this peculiar gift more, perhaps, than to any other of their ac- Fig. 17. THE GATEWAY, LOS COLIBRIS complishments. Coues, also, wonderfully attractive writer that he was, had to perfection the faculty of drawing a pleasing and fanciful sketch of a bird, and by means of most imaginative similes and comparisons, presenting an absolutely lifelike and accurate picture. It is no disparagement of the many able and conscientious bird students of today to say that, however thorough and accurate their published writings may be, there are but very few who have this gift of holding the interest of the gen- eral public. Where we do find this faculty it is the duty, and most decidedly to the interest, of all ornithologists to see that the fortunate writer is given the nt- most opportunity to use his talent to the best advantage. In all of Mr. Dawson's work the feeling borne by a true lover of books as such toward a beautiful edition is very apparent. A cheap book has nothing to recommend it in his eyes, an attitude which has resulted in "patrons' editions"