PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. XVll 



bird aud every fowl was sketched from choice specimens 

 obtained from the Academy of Natural Sciences, or from 

 other equally good sources; and in almost every instance, 

 the drawings were subjected to the approval of our much- 

 esteemed friend, John Cassin, Esq., before the blocks were 

 placed in the hands of the engravers. 



This latter circumstance alone should of itself be a 

 suiRcient guarantee of their correctness, as every one at 

 all conversant with science well knows of Mr. Cassin's 

 rare acquirements in this particular department of Natural 

 History. 



And we now gladly avail of this opportune occasion to 

 make our public acknowledgments to this gentleman for 

 his many valuable suggestions in reference to the execution 

 of these drawings, the securing of which, by-the-by, has 

 been by far the most difficult — in fact, we may freely say, 

 the only unpleasant as well as vexatious — portion of our 

 task. We also return thanks to Mr. John Krider for his 

 generous aid in supplying us with the skins of several 

 specimens of birds, which assisted materially in insuring 

 correct drawings. 



This is not the only good service which Mr. Krider has 

 done us as well as the rest of the craft during the last year ; 

 for, independently of the many fine guns that he has turned 

 out from his workshop, he has, with the valuable assistance 

 of his friend, Mr. H. M. Klapp, furnished us with his " Sport- 

 ing Anecdotes," a book replete not only with amusing but 

 very instructive information regarding the habits of our 

 game-birds, sporting-dogs, &c. &c. 



Mr. George G. "White, the principal draughtsman, and, 

 I may say, pupil, of Mr. Cassin's in this particular kind of 

 drawing, has displaj^ed much taste as well as artistic skill 

 in his delineations of the birds ; and we doubt if he has any 

 superior, if equal, on our side of the vasty deep in this spe- 

 cial branch of designing. His chapter-headings and many 



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