INTRODUCTION. 81 



esteemed both by the ornithologist and artist. 

 The other work above alluded to will bear a higher 

 rank in science, though, perhaps, its general 

 patronage has not been nearly so ample. In 1802, 

 Colonel Montague published the first part of his 

 Ornithological Dictionary, a work professing no 

 arrangement, but having the titles of the birds 

 alphabetically arranged, as indicated by the title. 

 A few years afterwards, a supplement was found 

 necessary, and contained nearly as much as the 

 first publication. In these volumes we have a 

 great mass of information relative to the habits 

 and manners of our British birds, a department 

 which had been scarcely yet touched upon ; all 

 that was previously known was compiled, whil< 

 the whole results of the Colonel's experience are 

 given in addition. The subjects are ably treated ; 

 the confusion which had prevailed from the 

 changes of plumage incident to the young and to 

 the old, in breeding season and in winter, were 

 explained ; and many ingenious opinions, of which 

 proof had not been established, were then ex- 

 pressed, and of which the results have since 

 shewn with what accuracy the author had ob- 

 served. Several species werenow, for the first time, 

 described and added to our Fauna. 



We have yet another work to notice before 

 we complete our brief survey of those devoted 

 more exclusively to this branch of the science. 



F 



