oe 
lV PREFACE. 
the Pacific Railroad Reports, and for some valuable speci 
mens with which he furnished me for descriptions and 
figures. I also take this occasion to return my thanks to 
Hon. James 8. Grennell, of Washington, and J. P. Norris, 
of Philadelphia, for the use of many valuable cuts of birds ; 
and to George A. Boardman, Esq., of Milltown, Me., John 
Krider, of Philadelphia, Thure Kumlien, of Albion, Wis., 
J. A. Allen, of Springfield, Mass., William Couper, of 
Quebec, Lower Canada, Henry A. Purdie, of Boston, and 
J. G. Rich, of Upton, Me., for many interesting specimens, 
and much valuable information. 
’ Great credit is due Messrs. M. M. Tidd and Nathan 
Brown, of Boston, for the careful and accurate manner 
in which they have illustrated the eggs; subjects, as is 
well known, exceedingly difficult .to figure, particularly on 
wood. 
To Messrs. John Wilson & Son, of Cambridge, Mass., my 
grateful acknowledgments are made for their indefatigable 
efforts to secure an elegant and perfect typographical exe- 
cution. 
The imperfections and shortcomings in the present work 
are too apparent; but they are, in most cases, unavoidable, 
because of the very meagre knowledge that we have of 
the habits of many of our birds, and the confusion that 
exists in the nomenclature, in descriptions, and observations 
concerning them in the works of many authors. 
HS -AS Ss 
Boston, March 25, 1867. u 
