viii INTRODUCTIOX. 



exhibition of the under sides of the wing was desirable, I have 

 not hesitated to give the bird the necessary position. 



In fine, the main object of this work is practical utility — not 

 a mere exhibition of pretty photographs. In it I have endeavored 

 to represent every species of Falcon, Hawk, Buzzard, Harrier, 

 Eagle, and Owl, which has up to the present time been found in 

 Canada. Consequently, should collectors still find something 

 different from anything here figured and described, they may feel 

 certain that they have either a species new to our fauna, or a form 

 or variety of very uncommon occurrence. In either case the 

 circumstance would be of great interest to Ornithologists, and I 

 take this opportunity of requesting such discoverers to communicate 

 either with myself or the Natural History Society of Montreal. 



It now only remains for me to sincerely thank all those who 

 have in any way assisted me, either by the loan of specimens or 

 by furnishing me with desired information. The names of such 

 I have embodied in the proper places in the body of this work ; 

 but special mention may here be made of the following : 



To Dr. Spencer F. Baird and Mr. Robert Ridgway of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., for the proper identi- 

 fication of the bird in our Museum, heretofore known as Dawson's 

 Falcon, and for facts relating to other species ; to Dr. Bernard J. 

 Gilpin of Halifa.x, N.S., for MS. list of the Rapacious Birds of 

 that Province ; the Rev. Duncan Anderson of Levis, Quebec, for 

 the rare specimen of the White Gyr-Falcon ; to the Montreal Nat. 

 Hist. Society for specimens placed at my disposal ; to Dr. John 

 Bell of Montreal for the beautiful specimen of the Bald Eagle ; to 

 Wm. Couper, naturalist, of Montreal, for MSS. notes; to Mr. W. 

 Passmore of Montreal, for interesting notes on captive Eagles ; to 

 Prof. Ramsay Wright of University College, Toronto, for a com- 

 plete list of the specimens contained in that Museum ; and lastly, 

 to Mr. Thos. Mcllwraith of Hamilton, for the specimen of the 

 Duck- Hawk, and for many notes illustrative of the habits and 

 distribution of the birds in that vicinity. 



HENRY G. VENNOR. 



Montreal, ist Jtmc, iSjd. 



