PREFACE. yii 



history of the species, as, in 1858, one of the autliors of the present work 

 published a systematic account of the birds of North America, constituting 

 Vol. IX. of the series of Pacific Kailroad Eeports ; while from the pen of 

 Dr. Elliott Coues, a well-known and eminent ornithologist, appeared in 1872 

 a comprehensive volume, entitled " A Key to North American Birds," con- 

 taining descriptions of the species and higher groups. 



The technical, or descriptive, matter of the present work has been prepared 

 by Messrs. Baird and Eidgway, that relating to the Bajjtorcs entirely by Mr. 

 Eidgway ; and all the accounts of the habits of the species are from the pen 

 of Dr. Brewer. In addition to the matter supplied by these gentlemen, Pro- 

 fessor Theodore N. Gill has furnished that portion of the Introduction de- 

 fining the class of birds as compared with the other vertebrates ; while to Dr. 

 Coues is to be given the entire credit for the pages embracing the tables of 

 the Orders and Families, as well as for the Glossary beginning on page 535 

 of Vol. III. 



Nearly all the drawings of the full-length figures of birds contained in the 

 work were made directly on the wood, by Mr. Edwin L. Sheppard, of Phila- 

 delphia, from original sketches taken from nature ; while the heads were exe- 

 cuted for the most part by Mr. Henry W. Elliott and Mr. Eidgway. Both 

 series have been engraved by Mr. Hobart H. Nichols of Washington. The 

 generic outlines were drawn by Anton L. Schonborn, and engraved by the 

 peculiar process of Jewett, Chandler, & Co., of Buffalo. All of these, it is 

 believed, speak for themselves, and require no other commendation. 



A considerable portion of the illustrations were prepared, by the persons 

 mentioned above, for the Eeports of the Geological Survey of California, and 

 published in the volume on Ornithology. To Professor Whitney, Chief 

 of the Survey, acknowledgments are due for the privilege of including many 

 of them in the present History of North American Birds, and also for the 

 Explanation of Terms, page 526 of Vol. III. 



A few cuts, drawn by Wolf and engraved by Whymper, first published 

 in "British Birds in their Haunts," and credited in their proper places, 

 were kindly furnished by the London Society for the Diffusion of Chris- 

 tian Knowledge ; and some others prepared for an unpublished volume by 

 Dr. Blasius, on the Birds of Germany, were obtained from Messrs. Vieweg 

 and Son, of Braunschweig. 



The volume on the Water Birds is in an advanced state of preparation, 

 and will be published with the least possible delay. 



SPENCER F. BAIRD. 



Smithsonian Institution, "Washington, 

 January 8, 1874. 



