INTRODUCTION 



In these volumes lovers of birds will find presented tor tlu 

 their natural colors, one hundred and twenty plates of the m 

 attractive, and interesting specimens of North American and oti 

 new process of color photography has enabled the publishers to ar . 

 wonderful result. Heretofore attempts have been made, witiT 

 success, by drawing, painting, lithography, etc., to produce satisf. cory ler. 

 sentations of our common birds, and ambitious efforts have been made, in mau) 

 otherwise magnificent monographs, to show the graceful forms and brilliant 

 plumage of the feathered families of South America, Africa, and the tropics, 

 Australia, and elsewhere. 



In Birds the object of the publishers, in the specimens thus far figured, 

 has been attained. Subsequent volumes will disclose treasures of bird-life quite 

 unimagined by the general reader. " The continuous woods where rolls the 

 Oregon '' have been explored, and their most gorgeous inhabitants will face the 

 camera ; the birds of finest feather — home residents — will be of the company ; 

 and foreigners of distinguished family and plumage, from far countries, will 

 lend their presence, occasionally one or two of such so rare as to excite the 

 surprise which the Peacock might cause, were it seen for the first time by the 

 people of the west. 



Birds will be presented, in fact, which will exemplify, for the feathered 



creation, the exquisite lines of Keats, differently applied, and will be as much 



of a surprise to our readers as to 



" Some watcher of the skies 



When a new planet swims into his ken." 



Nature Study Publishing Company. 



