(5 PREFACE. 



tailed history of the species, for then I should describe 

 the entire structure, instead of confining myself chiefly 

 to the external parts. It must be obvious that a bird 

 is not merely a skin stuck over with feathers, as some 

 persons seem to think it, but an organized being, ha- 

 ving various complex organs and faculties, the descrip- 

 tion of all of which is necessary to complete its history. 

 But as the exterior alone of birds has hitherto occupied 

 the attention of ornithologists in this country, and in- 

 deed in almost every country, I am unwilling to frighten 

 away the student by a display of bones and muscles, 

 bloodvessels and nerves. He will, however, I am per- 

 suaded, agree with me in thinking, that if the bill be 

 an organ of much importance, the parts of which it is 

 merely the commencement must be so too. I have 

 therefore ventured to describe in a brief manner the 

 oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, of all the species 

 of which I have within these eight months been able to 

 procure specimens for that purpose. In this part of 

 my labour I have received little assistance from books, 

 there being none known to me in which the intestinal 

 canal of our birds of prey is described in the different 

 species ; nor from any living individual, I having met 

 with none at all acquainted with the subject, although 

 it is probable enough that some persons known to me 

 may have examined the intestines of several species. 

 So far as the descriptions extend, I trust they will be 

 found generally correct* 



