Viii PREFACE. 



written for collectors, being chiefly manuals of taxidermy. 

 The former, so far as it extends, is the fuller of the two. The 

 author of this ornithological biography has endeavored to make 

 it inexpensive, trustworthy, original, and not a compilation. 

 He is aware that it is incomplete, treating only of the land- 

 birds and game-birds, which are, of all, however, the most 

 accessible to a majority of persons, the most numerous, and 

 certain]}^ the most generally interesting. He hopes, however, 

 that should this volume be favorably received, some naturalist 

 will undertake the biography of the wading and swimming 

 birds, which he himself is incapable of doing, not having had 

 opportunities to make sufficient observations. This volume 

 may be found further incomplete, and he hopes therefore that 

 criticisms and corrections will be freely made, that into a 

 second edition, should there be one, he may incorporate ad- 

 ditional facts. That he might not be, or seem guilty of pla- 

 giarism, he has written his biographies before reading those of 

 others, and has afterwards consulted Wilson, etc., for such inter- 

 esting facts as were unmentioned by himself. These borrowed 

 statements, or passages quoted for their intrinsic value, have 

 been invariably attributed to their authors, or placed in quota- 

 tion-marks.^ Sometimes, however, in spite of these precau- 

 tions, he has employed much the same words as other writers, 

 in describing the same facts. The biographies of the game- 

 birds have been contributed by a friend, except those of the 

 Canada and Pinnated Grouse. 



The author has endeavored to mention in detail the ordinary 

 or minor notes of various birds, since these are often more satis- 

 factorily characteristic than musical notes, which are usually 

 heard during a limited portion of the j^ear. He has, moreover, 

 endeavored, when possible, to convey an idea of several songs 



»In Uic case of a few rare birds, the author has satisfied himself with corrobor- 

 ating the statements of others, instead of maliing statements based entirely upon 

 his own authority and experience. He has not liesitated, however, to state very 

 general facts, wliich he cannot personally attest, such as that vultures feed chiefly 

 on can-ion, etc. These cases are principally couttned to remarks on distribution 

 and haljitat. 



