jj5 introductory. 



that has called forth the present paper. No excuse need be offered 

 for its manifest incompleteness, albeit it falls far short of a complete 

 review of the summer birds of the region treated, and the subject of 

 their environment is but cursorily entertained, for it is presented 

 solely as the contribution to an important subject permitted by a 

 transient experience in an unworked field. Moreover, completeness 

 in delineating the more pronounced features of the avi-fauna of the 

 defined region may be considered as reasonably attained ; and a pre- 

 cise knowledge of salient faunal features, extended and applied, 

 must yield a true conception of the broader principles of geographical 

 distribution. Primary features rather than incidental details must 

 bestow the character of all broad generalization. 



Of the Alleghanian system in New York State the Adirondacks 

 have received the most attention, and though we have as yet nothing 

 full on the ornithology of this section, the recent preliminary papers 

 of Dr. Merriam indicate that we have much to expect. 



In connection with a knowledofe of the avi-fauna of the Adiron- 

 dacks, a knowledge of that of the Catskills, second in importance 

 only to the former as a culminating point of the mountain system to 

 which both pertain, in New York State, is highly desirable; and 

 though we have had from Mr. John Burroughs some beautiful pen- 

 pictures of the bird-life of this region, and the writings of this author* 

 have much passim on the subject of its feathered inhabitants, other 

 than this, and incidental allusions in published matter, a short note by 

 Mr. T. M. Trippe,f is all I find applying directly to it. J 



The observations on which the present paper is based were made 

 during brief explorations of the more southern Catskills in three suc- 



* It may here be stated that all references made in this paper to Mr. Burroughs' writings are 

 to the volumes in which have been collected many of his essays which first appeared as magazine 

 articles. 



f American Naturalist, VI, i, 47-48, January, 1872. 



\ A recent paper by the writer renders this statement hardly exact and may here be cited : 



" A Sketch of the Home of Hylocichla Alicuc Bickiielli, Ridgway, with some Critical Remarks on 

 the Allies of this new Race." Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, VII, 3, 152-9, July, 1882. 



