ADVERTISEMENT. 



THIS work is intended for a class of readers to whom 

 mere scientific details would be unacceptable, if not 

 unintelligible. Such, therefore, have been, as much as 

 possible, avoided, and only alluded to as inducements 

 to those who are interested in the subject, to make 

 further progress in so attractive a department of Natu- 

 ral History. 



There are few individuals who have it not in their 

 power, occasionally, to remark the instincts and habits 

 of Birds ; and the many anecdotes collected from the 

 Author's own observation, the information of friends, 

 or various respectable sources, will, it is hoped, excite 

 others to register any facts within their reach, which 

 may illustrate the mysterious economy whereby this 

 beautiful portion of God's creation is enabled, in so 

 many instances, to surpass the highest efforts of man's 

 ingenuity, foresight, or philosophy. 



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