PREFACE. 



HE following pages are intended to lay before the student 

 of Natural History, in as concise a form as possible, a 

 general view of the distribution of the feathered tribes, and of 

 their uses and importance in Creation. The classification we 

 have followed is that proposed by Mr. G. R. Gray in his impor- 

 tant work on the Genera of Birds, and is that now adopted in 

 the arrangement of the ornithological collection in the British 

 Museum, to the study of which it is hoped this volume will be a 

 useful guide. The descriptions are selected as far as practicable 

 from original sources, and will be found, notwithstanding the 

 succinctness with which they are given, to embody a large amount 

 of reliable information concerning the habits and mode of life of 

 the various races treated of ; while the numerous engravings by 

 eminent artists exhibit with clearness and fidelity the leading 

 characteristics whereby they are distinguishable. 



T. RYMER JONES. 



Athenczum Club, June i6, i8j2. 



