XX PREFACE. 



performance; but the reader may judge of 

 the extent of our plan, by the following 

 heads : the character of the genus fhall firft 

 be mentioned : then the fpecific name : the 

 fynonyms from different authors ; and the 

 genera in which thofe authors have placed 

 the animal. The names fhall be given 

 in feveral European languages ^ -, and we 

 fhall conclude with a brief, but fufRcient 

 defcription, adding at the fame time, the 

 various ufes, and natural hiilory of each 

 individual. 



If this plan fucceeds, in promoting the 

 knowlege of nature in this kingdom, we fhall 

 think ourfelves amply revv^arded. Could our 

 exhortations avail, we fliould recommend this 

 ftudy mofl earneflly to every country gentle- 

 man. To thofe of an aftive turn, we might 

 fay, that fo pleafing and ufeful an employ- 

 ment w^ould relieve the tcedium arifing from 



* In the ornithology the European names are prefixed to 

 the author referred to in the fynonyms. 



