' PREFACE. XI. 



although in jijeneral pretty uniform, undergoes, occasionally 

 some modification in consequence of the ease or difficulty 

 with which certain materials can be obtained. We must 

 not, tlierelore, be in haste to condemn what we have not 

 ourselves witnessed. In the Natural History of Birds, 

 even of those with which we are most familiar, we are still 

 greatl}'^ deficient ; theie can be no doubt that more ex- 

 tended observation will add very materially to our know- 

 ledge of this truly dehghtful department of nature. 



The author takes the present opportunity Of returning 

 hi$ sincere and best thanks to those kind and intelligent; 

 Friends and Correspondents who have so promptly and 

 liberally communicated to him many facts concerning the 

 Natural History of Birds which were not previously known; 

 and also for their hints and suggestions for the improvement 

 of bis work. Some of these gentlemen are specifically men- 

 tioned in the Introduction or the Notes; but he deems it 

 incumbent upon him to state that he is indebted fot 

 valuable information to Dr. Latham, to whoso interesting 

 and voluminous work on Birds he is al^ under considera- 

 ble obligation ; to N. .4. Vigors, Esq. m.a. f.l.s. Seethe 

 learned Secretary of the Zoological Society, and the in- 

 genious expounder of the Quinary Arrangement ; to Dr. 

 HoRSFiELD, the author of Zoological Researches; to tbe 

 Poet Laureate ; to Richard Taylor, Esq. f.l.s. ; to the 

 Rev. W. L. Bowles ; the Rev. W. Phelps ; to J. G. 

 Children, Esq. f.l.s. &c. and Secretary to the Royal 

 Society; to W. Yarrel, Esq. f.l.s, whose collection of 

 English Birds, and their eggs, as well as many anatomical 

 preparations of Birds, evince, at once, his zeal and his ex- 

 tensive knowledge of this interesting science ; and to R. 

 Sweet, Esq. f.l.s. for whose valuable communication on 



