To His Excellency Edward Everett, 



Governor of Massachusetts : 



Sir, — 



In some remarks which I had the honor to submit to you on a 

 former occasion, when I offered reasons for not presenting my report 

 at the time first proposed, I mentioned that the history and habits of 

 our birds were not fully understood, and that experiments and observa- 

 tions would be necessary to accomplish all the objects of a survey. 

 These will be suggested in the course of my report; and it will be 

 obvious, that, were I so situated as to be able to make them, it could 

 not be done without employing in it several successive years. I there- 

 fore respectfully set before you such information as I have, trusting 

 that our present knowledge will soon be extended by the active and 

 intelligent observers, who are engaged in this delightful study. 



One object proposed is, to enumerate the birds of Massachusetts ; 

 another, to give what information we possess respecting their habits, 

 particulai'ly such as cultivators are interested to know. As Nuttall's 

 valuable Manual is accessible to most readers, I have thought it better 

 to refer to him for descriptions of the appearance of our birds, than to 

 swell this report by repeating them. For the same reason, I shall fol- 

 low his arrangement, subjoining to my account of each bird all I can 

 learn respecting its services and depredations ; that the husbandman 

 and horticulturist may determine which it is his interest to protect, 

 and which he has a right to destroy ; or rather, whether it is not the 

 part of wisdom to encourage and protect them all. 



With respect to the first of these objects, it would be easy to give 

 the names of those which remain with us throughout the year, or of 

 those which come to us in their regular annual migrations. But beside 

 these, there are some which make their appearance at uncertain inter- 

 vals, and it is not always easy to determine whether they should or 

 should not be numbered with our birds. There are others also, which 

 have been found apparently wandering from their usual ways, but 

 which, having come to us once or twice, may do so again. The 

 33 



