Genre:

Essay, Drollery, Serial

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

E G *

Subjects:

Natural History, Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Human Development, Comparative Philology

    The initial letter forms part of an illustration showing an impoverished stork dressed in rags, holding in its beak a notice bearing the words, 'Have Pity'. It is also tied to a large mouse which begs for food to be placed in a cup which it holds in its front legs. The text describes how 'the learned Cheilopotos' in his 'treatise upon the Science of Creative Duplication' has argued that 'No entity can ever be lost in Nature for want of its counterpart' and that 'the collective idiosyncrasies of all the possible varieties of Human Individualities are to be found separately in the animal kingdom'. The author insists on the unchanging behavioural characteristics of animals and explains that he is to commence 'a series of sketches upon the Aesopian idea' of illustrating 'modern society' by the three estates of birds, beasts, and fishes.