vi PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



ed ; to condense the species, by excluding such en- 

 largements as had arisen from a want of strict atten- 

 tion to the changes of plumage under different periods 

 of age ; and to add to the general stock of knowledge 

 my mite of personal observation on the habits of this 

 interesting tribe of creatures. 



In this latter respect, I trust candid readers will 

 not charge against me as a fault the large share of 

 egotism that seems to pervade this volume ; of two 

 evils, I certainly would rather chuse to rest under this 

 imputation, than that of being a downright compiler. 

 As to the style, I have endeavoured, as far as lay in 

 my power, to unite conciseness and perspicuity with 

 that plain didactic manner in which I conceive all 

 works on scientific subjects should be written. 



I shall conclude this short notice, with apologising 

 for a slight want of regularity in the numbering of the 

 plates. This was most unavoidable from the necessari- 

 ly irregular manner in which the specimens were ob- 

 tained, and the etchings accomplished ; but I should 

 hope that no great inconvenience will be experienced 

 on this point. 



February 10. 1825. 



