8 EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



editor's final corrections. In revising, and to some 

 extent rewriting, them for publication, the editor has 

 been influenced by the author's request that he would 

 alter and emend at his own discretion ; becoming in 

 consequence equally responsible for the accuracy and 

 completeness of the work. It should be added, more- 

 over, that Mr. Stearns has had full permission to 

 make such use as he saw fit of any of the editor's 

 previous publications. The illustrations are all from 

 these sources. The work having thus been brought 

 fully up to date, is now submitted to the public in 

 the confident hope that it will be favorably received by 

 all who are interested in the attractive and agreeable 



study of our native birds. 



E. C. 



WASHINGTON, D. C, May 31, 1880. 



