INTRODUCTION. 



The present " Catalogue of North American Birds" has been reprinted, 

 with some changes, from the one in quarto, forming a portion of the 

 report on North American Birds, in Vol. IX. of the Reports of the Pacific 

 Railroad Survey, and published as a separate paper, by the Institution, in 

 October, 1858. Its object is to facilitate the labelling of the specimens of 

 birds and eggs in the Museum of the Institution, as also to serve the pur- 

 poses of a check list of the species. 



Copies printed on one side of the paper only, for labelling, or on both 

 sides, for miscellaneous purposes, will be furnished to institutions and indi- 

 viduals on application. 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary S. I. 



