INTRODUCTION 



TO 



THE WATER BIRDS 



We now enter upon the second grand division of our subject, Water 

 Birds ; and on that particular class, or order, usually denominated 

 Grallce, or Waders. Here a new assemblage of scenery, altogether 

 different from the former, presents itself for our contemplation. Instead 

 of- rambling through the leafy labyrinths of umbrageous groves, fra- 

 grance-breathing orchards, fields and forests, we must now descend into 

 the watery morass, and mosquito-swamp ; traverse the windings of the 

 river, the rocky cliffs, bays and inlets of the sea-beat shore, listening to 

 the wild and melancholy screams of a far different multitude ; a mul- 

 titude less intimate indeed with man, though not less useful ; as they 

 contribute liberally to his amusement, to the abundance of his table, 

 the warmth of his bed, and the comforts of his repose. 



In contemplating the various, singular and striking peculiarities of 

 these, we shall everywhere find traces of an infinitely wise and benefi- 

 cent Creator. In every deviation of their parts from the common con- 

 formation of such as are designed for the land alone, we may discover 

 a wisdom of design never erring, never failing in the means it provides 

 for the accomplishment of its purpose. Instead therefore of imitating 

 the wild presumption, or rather profanity, of those who have censured' 

 as rude, defective or deformed, whatever, in those and other organized 

 beings, accorded not with their narrow conceptions ; let it be ours to 

 search with humility into the intention of those particular conforma- 

 tions ; and thus, entering as it were into the designs of the Deity, we 

 shall see in every part of the work of his hands abundant cause to 

 exclaim with the enraptured poet of nature, 



" Wisdom infinite ! Goodness immense 1 

 And Love that passeth knowledge !" 



In the present volume, the greater part of such of the Waders as 

 belong to the territories of the United States, will be found delineated 



(285) 



