IV PREFACE. 



the Pacific Railroad Reports, and for some valuable sjDeci- 

 mens with which he furnished me for descriptions and 

 figures. I also take this occasion to return my thanks to 

 Hon. James S. Grennell, of Washington, and J. P. Norris, 

 of Philadelphia, for the use of many valuable cuts of birds ; 

 and to George A. Boardman, Esq., of Milltown, Me., John 

 Krider, of Philadelphia, Thure Kumlien, of Albion, Wis., 

 J. A. Allen, of Springfield, Mass., William Couper, of 

 Quebec, Lower Canada, Henry A. Purdie, of Boston, and 

 J. G. Rich, of Upton, Me., for many interesting specimens, 

 and much valuable information. 



Great credit is due Messrs. M. M. Tidd and Nathan 

 Brown, of Boston, for the careful and accurate manner 

 in which they have illustrated the eggs ; subjects, as is 

 well known, exceedingly difficult to figure, particularly on 

 wood. 



To Messrs. John Wilson & Son, of Cambridge, Mass., my 

 grateful acknowledgments are made for their indefatigable 

 efforts to secure an elegant and perfect typographical exe- 

 cution. 



The imperfections and shortcomings in the present work 



are too apparent ; but they are, in most cases, unavoidable, 



because of the very meagre knowledge that we have of 



the habits of many of our birds, and the confusion that 



exists in the nomenclature, in descriptions, and observations 



concerning them in the works of many authors. 



E. A. s. 



Boston, March 25, 1867. 



