PREFACE. 



J^ In presenting this volume to the public, I would say -that 



, my chief aim in its preparation has been to supply the great 



\ / demand for some work that might be accessible to all, both 



^\ in consequence of its moderate price and its plain, untech- 



, J ^^cal language. 



^ The want of such a volume is keenly appreciated by our 



T students in this interesting branch of natural history ; and, 



(C> as all the editions of the valuable and popular works of 



Wilson and Nuttall are out of print, it has long been 



J almost entirely unsupplied. 



^ I have been able, from my own observations, to correct 

 , *ome important errors that have been published as to 

 the breeding habits of d.ifferent species, and have added, 

 v^ probably, a few new facts to our knowledge respecting 

 ^j^ those of others ; but I must apologize for being obliged, in 

 '^ a great many cases, to use the observations of others for 

 1^ facts which I have had no opportunity of ascertaining 



myself. 

 ^ I am greatly indebted to Professor Spencer P. Baird, of 

 ',. Washington, for his generous permission to use the descrip- 

 tions of the birds given by him m the ninth volume of 



[iii] 



1^ 



