PREFACE. 



" I ^HIS work is practically an edition of " A Manual 

 ■'- of the Ornithology of the United States and of 

 Canada," written by THOMAS NuTTALL, though only as 

 much of the original title has been retained as seemed 

 consistent with the changed character of the text. 



Nuttall's work has been out of print for several years ; 

 but its popularity and real value have kept it in demand, 

 and the few copies recently offered for sale were dis- 

 posed of at high prices. A new edition was thus called 

 for ; but it seemed unwise to issue the work in its origi- 

 nal form, or to remodel it to the extent that would be 

 required to arrange it in harmony with the new regime 

 of affairs ornithological ; for the science has advanced 

 rapidly since the "Manual" was written, and the 

 changes effected have been numerous and important. 

 A new and entirely different system of classification has 

 come in vogue ; the nomenclature has been altered and 

 trinomials introduced ; and, indeed, little is left of 

 American ornithology as Nuttall knew it, except the 

 birds, — and even of these, two species have become 

 extinct, and a large number of new forms have been 

 discovered. 



Thomas Nuttall came to this country from England 

 in 1808, and between 1825 and 1834 held the positions 



