2 INTRODUCTION. 



the anatomy of birds by a vague apprehension of the extreme 

 difficiihy of making any proficiency in it. But the study of 

 the organization of these animals is certainly a much easier 

 task than that of their habits, manners, distribution, and mi- 

 grations, seeing that any educated individual, having a moderate 

 acuteness of observation, with some patience, may quietly, 

 and with little labour, and less expense, inspect in his closet 

 the entire anatomy of a variety of species readily procurable in 

 the markets of any of our cities ; whereas the observer of habits 

 must perform laborious, expensive, and sometimes dangerous 

 journeys, and after all his exertions, may count himself singu- 

 larly fortunate if he has succeeded in discovering some interest- 

 ing facts previously unnoticed, and still more so if, after com- 

 municating them to the public, he escape the abuse of the 

 envious and prejudiced, who, with a little of the slight know- 

 ledge that the mere collector of specimens can ever possess, 

 presume to pronounce judgment upon his performance. The 

 study of the structure of birds is a delightful, as well as an easy 

 occupation ; for at every step it discloses the most beautiful 

 illustrations of divine wisdom ; but to what rational purpose 

 it can be applied by an intellect which vainly strives to render 

 itself independent upon its Creator, I am unable to apprehend. 

 Even a very slight general knowledge of their organization will 

 give an interest to the details of their habits and economy 

 which can scarcely be felt, or at least adequately experienced, 

 by him who merely knows that they are organized beings. 

 Having given the necessary explanations on this subject, I 

 shall finally offer some remarks on the habits of birds, and 

 proceed to describe the species selected for the present occa- 

 sion. 



