Can you help me identify this watercolour artist?

[Mercian]

Hi, I have spotted on ebay a 19thC watercolour which looks to me like
it might be by Edward Lear. The painting is not signed and the owner
does not know who it is by.

The number of the listing is: 150114380158

If you can help me identify it I would be most grateful.

Mercian.

[zi...@speakeasy.net]

> Hi, I have spotted on ebay a 19thC watercolour which looks to me like
> it might be by Edward Lear.

Except for his limericks and related things, Lear was a very tight
illustrator specializing in bird painting. This thing does not look
like either style. It is too general and unclear for his limerick
style and nothing like his illustrator's style. Have you ever seen any
of his illustrations? Take a look. His Birds of sicuily [not the exact
name] is a good example.

Best,
Gabriel

P.S. Actually, I, of course, am much more interested in his limericks.
In the days before most people paid any attention to them I picked up
three first American editions of them. One is incomplete since it
lacks the back board. The last numbered illustration is on the outside
of the back board. There were two issues identical exceptg for the
publisher's name and town, one was published with a New York City
source and the other with a Philadelphia one.