PREFACE. 



" I ^HIS work is practically an edition of " A Manual 

 ■^ of the Ornithology of the United States and of 

 Canada," written by THOMAS NUTFALL. 



Nuttall's work has been out of print for several years ; 

 but its popularity and real value have kept it in demand, 

 and the few copies recently offered for sale were dis- 

 posed of at high prices. A new edition was thus called 

 for ; but it seemed unwise to issue the work in its origi- 

 nal form, or to remodel it to the extent that would be 

 required to arrange it in harmony with the new 7-cgiine 

 of affairs ornithological ; for the science has advanced 

 rapidly since the "Manual" was written, and the 

 changes effected have been numerous and important. 

 A new and entirely different system of classification has 

 come in vogue; the nomenclature has been altered and 

 trinomials introduced; and, indeed, little is left of 

 American ornithology as Nuttall knew it, except the 

 birds, — and even of these, two species have become 

 extinct, and a large number of new forms have been 

 discovered. 



Thomas Nuttall came to this country from England 

 in 1808, and between 1825 and 1834 held the positions 



