PREFACE. IX 



system of classification now generally used is more 

 clearly stated in Ridgway's *' Manual of North Amer- 

 ican Birds." But the most complete work at present 

 obtainable, and one which every student should have at 

 hand, is " The History of North American Birds," by 

 Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway. With that work and the 

 '' A. O. U. Check-List " to guide him, the student will 

 be equipped for thorough study. 



It only remains for me to thank many friends who 

 have aided me. To Mr. William Brewster and Mr. 

 Charles F. Batchelder, the president and the treasurer 

 of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, I am particularly 

 indebted for kind advice and assistance. Nor must I 

 forget to mention the name of my fellow-worker, Ernest 

 E. Thompson, of Toronto. A large number of the 

 illustrations are from drawings made especially for this 

 work by Mr. Thompson. 



M. C. 



Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 

 September, 1891. 



