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The great expense attending works embellished with costly en- 

 gravings, as well as the strictly scientific character of most works 

 treating of Natural History, limits such subjects comparatively 

 to the few. Frequent complaints of this nature have induced me 

 to offer the present volume, with a view of placing within the 

 reach of the " gunners," the means of becoming more thoroughly 

 acquainted with the birds frequenting Long Island. 



The additions all departments of Natural History are continually 

 receiving, is evidence, that with however much zeal and energy 

 the different branches have been pursued, and notwithstanding the 

 praiseworthy exertions bestowed by those who have distinguished 

 themselves in their various pursuits, still we find their labors are 

 not so far complete as to leave nothing for their successors. 



While the Botanist, Mineralogist, Entomologist, and Concholo- 

 gist are enriching their cabinets, the Ornithologist is finding in our 

 vast territory undescribed species. The "Journal of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia," (1841,) contains an 

 article giving the views of Dr. Bachman, relative to the course our 

 Naturalists sjiould pursue in the publication of American species 

 viz. " that all north of the Tropic of Cancer twenty-three and a 

 half degrees, should be called North America — the Tropics, Tro- 

 pical or Central America — and south of the Tropic of Capricorn, 

 South America." The large scope which our Zoology embraces, 

 deters many persons from making collections, as they despair ever 

 being able to complete them. I would therefore suggest to amateurs 

 the propriety of commencing with a view of collecting such species 

 as are to be;found in their own district, taking the State or even 



