114 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Grebe offer particularly this fact during the winter months, when the earth 

 is hardened by the frost. 



I shall add a word only upon the practical importance of researches in 

 this direction. All agriculturists are interested in being acquainted with 

 the precise alimentary regimen of the species of birds which, according to 

 their seasons, spread themselves over their lands. In this view, the facts 

 in detail have a value wholly special, but I can only announce here this 

 general view, the evidence of which every one may become possessed of. 

 It is necessary to say, in one word, for the benefit of all, that the agri- 

 culturist cannot destroy a bird without knowing that he can expect thereby 

 only injury. This result can be attained only when naturalists themselves 

 become pertinently acquainted with the facts relative to alimentation. The 

 labor which I have wrought has appeared to me to tend to this result, but 

 it will be necessary to multiply it in respect to a great number of species 

 and in different countries. All that it will be possible for me to do in this 

 respect, I shall do with the aid of the materials which I have collected and 

 with the means at my disposal. I desire that other naturalists, giving 

 themselves to studies of this kind, may bring to the question the indispen- 

 sable cooperation of a certa.n number of observations executed in circum- 

 stances sufficiently various. 



I cannot end this memoir without profiting by the occasion which it offers 

 to me of expressing publicly my gratitude to the persons who have kindly 

 aided me in this work by permitting me to follow my observations in the 

 forests and domains of the crown, placed successively under their direction. 

 I owe especial thanks to Messrs. Baron Lahune, Conservator of the Forests 

 of the Crown; Empis, of the French Academy, director of the domains of 

 the civil list, actually administrator general of the French Theatre ; Defos, 

 chief of the bureau of the forests ; as well as to General Ney, prince of 

 Moskowa, first huntsman of his Majesty the Emperor; Messrs. Marquis 

 Toulongeon ; and Baron Lage, captain and lieutenant of the imperial 

 hunting. 



