of Eastern North America" is a model of its class, and its lines — all too 

 brief — have proved a fertile source of inspiration. On the more popular 

 side grateful mention may be made of Langille's "Our birds in their Haunts", 

 and Nehrling's "Our Native Birds of Song and Beauty." 



To my friend and ornithological brother, Professor Lynds Jones, I am 

 under the deqjest obligations for assistance in the prosecution of this work. 

 Altho having a more accurate knowledge of bird-ways than I, he generously 

 consented to set aside certain plans of his own, and has not spared to give 

 me valued counsel and aid of every sort. To the list of signed sketches 

 which hear his name, should be added the article on the Bob-white, whose 

 signature was inadvertently omitted. 



I gratefully acknowledge indebtedness to the State University authori- 

 ties, and especially to Professors Osborn and Hine, for the use of museum 

 material and for many kindnesses beside; to Mr. C. B. Galbreath of the 

 State Library, and to Mrs. Lida Wheaton for the loan of valuable books ; 

 to Rev. Leander S. Keyser, D.D., Dr. Joshua Lindahl, Dr. F. W. Langdon, 

 Dr. Howard Jones. Messrs. C. H. Morris, E. J. Arrick, \Ym. Hubbell Fisher, 

 and others, for gracious hospitality ; to Rev. W. F. Henninger, Professor 

 Win. S. Mills, Robert J. Sim, R. t. Baird, Walter C. Metz, R. F. Griggs, 

 and others, for signed sketches, pictures, and data; and to a host of corre- 

 spondents and friends beside, for hearty cooperation which has made this 

 work a pleasant task and one in a measure representative of the whole state. 



To my wife is due a large measure of credit for her painstaking and 

 unselfish work upon the manuscript and in proof-reading. Without her aid 

 the work must have been delayed several months. 



1 cannot conclude without making grateful acknowledgment also of the 

 sustained interest of my friend and coadjutor. Mr. L. H. Bulkley, and of 

 the service of all those who in good conscience have wrought upon this book, 

 to give it a comely appearance, a body better. I fear, than the expression of 

 its animating spirit, but not higher, I venture to believe, than its aim. 



W. Leon Dawson. 

 Columbus, Pec. 15. 1903. 



