INTRODUCTION. 9 



It may probably be expected, that, in a publication of this 

 kind, we should commence with the order ACCIPITRES, and 

 proceed, regularly, through the different orders and genera, ac- 

 cording to the particular system adopted. This, however de- 

 sirable, is in the present case altogether impracticable; unless, 

 indeed, we possessed living specimens, or drawings, of every 

 particular species to be described; an acquisition which no pri- 

 vate individual, nor public Museum in the world, can, as yet, 

 boast of. This work is not intended to be a mere compilation 

 from books, with figures taken from stuffed and dried birds, 

 which would be but a sorry compliment to the science; but a 

 transcript from living Nature, embracing the whole Ornitholo- 

 gy of the United States; and as it is highly probable that nu- 

 merous species, at present entirely unknown, would come into 

 our possession long after that part of the work appropriated for 

 the particular genera to which they belonged had been finished, 

 and thereby interrupt, in spite of every exertion, the regularity 

 of the above arrangement, or oblige us to omit them altogether: 

 considering these circumstances, and that during the number 

 of years which the completion of the present work will neces- 

 sarily occupy, the best opportunities will be afforded, and eve- 

 ry endeavour used, to procure drawings of the whole, a diffe- 

 rent mode has been adopted, as being more agreeably diversi- 

 fied, equally illustrative of the science, and perfectly practica- 

 ble; which the other is not. The birds will, therefore, appear 

 without regard to generical arrangement; but the order, genus, 

 &c. of each will be particularly noted; and a complete Index 

 added to the whole, in which every species will be arranged 

 in systematic order, with reference to the volume, page, and 

 plate, where each figure and description may be instantly found. 

 From the great expense of engravings executed by artists of 

 established reputation, many of those who have published works 

 of this kind, have had recourse to their own ingenuity in etch- 

 ing their plates; but, however honourable this might have been 

 to their industry, it has been injurious to the effect intended to 

 be produced by the figures; since the pointy alone, is not suffi- 

 VOL. i. D d 



