2 INTRODUCTION. 



birds, from the shores of St. Lawrence to the mouths of the 

 Mississippi, and from the Atlantic ocean to the interior of Lou- 

 isiana: these will be engraved in a style superior to any thing 

 of the kind hitherto published; and coloured from nature with 

 the most scrupulous adherence to the true tints of the original. 

 The bare account of scientific names, colour of bills, claws, 

 feathers, &c. would form but a dry detail; neither, in a publi- 

 cation of the present kind, where every species is faithfully 

 figured and coloured, is a long and minute description of the 

 form, and feathers, absolutely necessary. This would, in the 

 opinion of some, be like introducing a gentleman to company, 



with " ladies and gentlemen, " Mr. . He has on a blue 



coa t white pantaloons hussar boots," fyc. fyc. while a single 

 glance of the eye, over the person himself, told us all this be- 

 fore the orator had time to open his mouth; so infinitely more 

 rapidly do ideas reach us through the medium of the eye, than 

 by that of the ear. But as time may prey on the best of colours, 

 what is necessary in this respect will by no means be omitted, 

 that the figures and descriptions may mutually corroborate 

 each other. It is also my design to enter more largely than 

 usual into the manners and disposition of each respective spe- 

 cies; to become, as it were, their faithful biographer, and to 

 delineate their various peculiarities, in character, song, build- 

 ing, economy, &c. as far as my own observations have extend- 

 ed, or the kindness of others may furnish me with materials. 



The ORNITHOLOGY of the United States exhibits a rich dis- 

 play of the most splendid colours, from the green, silky, gold- 

 bespangled down of the minute humming bird, scarce three 

 inches in extent, to the black coppery wings of the gloomy 

 Condor, of sixteen feet, who sometimes visits our northern re- 

 gions a numerous and powerful band of songsters, that for 

 sweetness, variety, and melody, are surpassed by no country 

 on earth an ever-changing scene of migration, from torrid to 

 temperate and from northern to southern regions, in quest of 

 suitable seasons, food, and climate; and such an amazing diver- 

 sity in habit, economy, form, disposition and faculties, so uni- 



