Animal Drawings

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21938, 12 November 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

Animal Drawings

Two more beautiful books have been produced by the publishing house of J. M. Dent and Sons. These are the animal books of Mr Eric Fitch Dagiish. Readers who know the splendid drawings and stories of the beasts and birds and insects and plants that Mr Dagiish has produced before will welcome these new fine works. They are called "Animals in Black and White," No. 1 and No. 2. Each has 47 pages of text and 47 pages of illustrations from woodcuts. And each one was formerly three books. Now they are 6s each, or 12s for the six original books.

Here is an example of Mr Daglish’s drawing and description of a larger beast, the hippopotamus. “The hippopotamus, or river pig, is found in many of the great rivers of Africa, where it lives in small families or in larger companies, numbering from 20 to 30 beasts. Its short, stumpy legs and enormously fat, bulky body make it a slow-moving creature, and a great part of its life is spent below the water, with only its nostrils showing above the surface. The hippopotamus feeds at night, on reeds and other swamp plants, but it is very fond of young corn and

sugar -canc» and. it o€t6n. do6s creat damage to plantations whiclT it ra.ds at night in search of these dainties. This is a bad-tempered ar *d dangerous animal to interfere with, for it will charge in the water any object which it fears, and it

can crush a boat in its huge ja»* just as easily as you can crack » nut. The skin, like that of the rhinoceros, is very thick, and qfflto naked. Beneath it the whole body is covered by a layer of fat, which the natives of Africa boil down*™ use as oil for their lamps. The great teeth furnish ivory, and the hide is used for making whig, belts, and similar articles, white hippo meat is said to make excel* lent stew.”

And below is an example of the author’s beautiful drawing description of a large bird, «• swan:—

“When seen slowly gliding **S the surface of a quiet swan is one of the most grace** of birds, but on land it loses®"*" of its beauty, for away fro® water its carriage is awkward wg its short legs cause it to walk a waddle. The swan so often I*"* on lakes in parks, is the mute sw»*j which is the most graceful w the different kinds which aretow'* in different parts of the world, the mute swan, the neck, wh®V a bird is swimming, is carried graceful S shaped curve, wings are half raised over the so that they stand up hke W®"

sails. The beak is bright OH** and on the forehead there large, black knob. The name, swan, was given to this bird ago, when it was thought to voice. But this is a the males often make a C J*"S grunting noise, and at nesting soft call is also uttered. T« e "25nest of the swan is built <* .S 3 plants and reeds with a down which is plucked frowSS breasts of the bills. The e<Wa||L greenish white, and as many are sometimes found in one *SSmi