PREFACE 



When first l read the Catalogue of Birds, newly 

 printed by my friend Dr. Leach, of the British Mu- 

 seum, 1 found some difficulty in attaching distinct 

 ideas of tlie species to the names he has adopted, on 

 account of their newness, and the want of customary 

 provincial names subjoined, by which one might be 

 assisted in finding out what species he intended. 

 Having heard many other persons express the same 

 difficulty, I thought a Catalogue of Birds, with the two 

 sets of names put together, side by side, might be 

 acceptable to many readers. And I have, therefore, 

 ventured to lay the following sheets before the publick, 

 and have added observations, separated according to 

 the natural division of the subject, on the means of 

 distinguishing birds at a distance by their flight, song, 

 forms, and colours ; and when near, by their other 

 generic and specific diflferences, and on otlier branches 

 of Ornithology. 



With respect to the propriety of the new nomen- 

 clature, on a closer examination, it seems founded 

 on generic differences, and it may be used in time 

 to come, by Ornithologists in general. I have not 

 put Dr. Leach's names first, as the principal words, 

 for the following reasons : 1st, This nomenclature 

 is the least known as yet ; 2nd, It not having been 



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^V^oniao Insfi 

 RICHMOND 



coLt FCTioN. C/y 



