VI. PREFACE. 



divisions, viz., Land and Water, a number of tribes have 

 thereby been included among the latter, which can no other- 

 wise be denominated Water Birds than as they occasionally 

 seek their food in moist places, by small streamlets, or on 

 the sea-shore; such as the Curlew, Woodcock, Snipe, Sand- 

 piper, and many others. These, with such as do not com- 

 mit themselves wholly to the waters, are thrown into a 

 separate division under the denomination of Waders. The 

 King-fisher lives entirely on fish, is constantly found on the 

 margins of still waters, and may with greater propriety be 

 denominated a Water Bird than many which come under 

 that description ; the Water Ouzel seems to have no con- 

 nection with those birds among which it is usually classed; 

 it is generally found among rapid-running streams, in which 

 it chiefly delights, and from which it derives its support. 



It may be proper to observe, that while one of the editors 

 of this work was engaged in preparing the cuts, which are 

 faithfully drawn from Nature, and engraved upon wood, the 

 compilation of the descriptions of the first edition (of the 

 Land Birds) was undertaken by the other, subject, however, 

 to the corrections of his friend, whose habits had led him to 

 a more intimate acquaintance with this branch of Natural 

 History: the compiler, therefore, is answerable for the de- 

 fects which may be found in this part of the undertaking, 

 concerning which he has little to say, but that it was the 

 production of those hours which could be spared from a 

 laborious employment, and on that account he hopes the 

 severity of criticism will be spared, and that it will be re- 

 ceived with that indulgence which has been already ex- 

 perienced on a former occasion. 



Neivcast/e-upon-Tvne, September, 



