PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



THE fact that within five years I have been called on to issue 

 a second edition of this work, is the surest proof of my suc- 

 cess in the attempt to supply a general want. I must con- 

 fess, that none of my works has met with such a favourable 

 reception as this, for which I have received the oral and 

 written thanks of readers of all classes ; and particularly of 

 many ladies of wealth and distinction, some of whom also I 

 have had the pleasure of assisting by my advice. It gratifies 

 me to be able to announce, that I have introduced into this 

 edition improvements, which will be found both numerous 

 and important. I have not only interpolated the results of 

 fresh observations in my account of particular species, but 

 changed, and I hope amended, the general arrangement of the 

 work, and added descriptions of many foreign and indigenous 

 birds, which were omitted in the previous edition. 



I cannot refrain from expressing the pleasure afforded me 

 by the conviction that this work has not only increased, by 

 the information which it contains, the interest already taken 

 by some of my readers in the feathered creation, but has also 

 been the means of directing the attention of many others to 

 the observation and love of natural objects. It is my earnest 

 wish, that in its new form, this book may again be the means 

 of increasing the number of those who study and admire the 

 wonderful works of God, and thus of fulfilling one of the chief 

 purposes for which we have been surrounded with the countless 

 host of living creatures. 



WALTEESHATJSEN, Nov. 1, 1799. 



PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. 



I HAVE but few prefatory observations to make to this new 

 edition of my History of Cage- Birds. A comparison with 

 the preceding, will shew that it has been considerably enlarged 

 and improved. It has, indeed, been objected by some, that 

 I have already stretched the limits of my work too far, by 

 admitting into it descriptions of birds, which can only be 

 tamed with considerable difficulty ; e. g. the Common and 

 Gold-crested Wren. To this I reply, that in my own opi- 



