PERORATION TO THE READER. 



THERE perhaps will not be wanting those who 

 will attribute this to me as a fault, that this little 

 book of mine contains within it many more conjectures 

 than sure statements : to whom I reply, that it seemed 

 to me much more prudent and becoming on a subject 

 that is difficult and not yet sufficiently explored to 

 tread doubtingly and modestly by conjecture, and so to 

 enquire, than to pronounce rashly and immodestly on 

 things undetermined. Moreover that I have written 

 nothing here of the habits and medicinal nature of 

 birds, I have for reasons the unsuitability of the time 

 of year and its brief span (for the whole book was 

 written in a space of less than two months) and a 

 supply of money too slender to suffice for the per- 

 fection of a work of that kind. For who without great 

 command of money can set off for distant regions, 

 to observe the forms and habits of foreign birds, and 

 there to stay a long time for that purpose ? Who, 

 hindered by his household or his calling or other 

 business from going abroad could without vast expense 

 give heed to all the kinds of birds brought to him 

 by fowlers from the various quarters of the world ? 

 and when brought, who would be capable without 

 vast expense of keeping them in vivaria and cages, 

 that he might investigate their habits to the full ? 



