XIV PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



Ill accordance witli the repeated suggestions of some of onr 

 Sporting friends, we have deemed it advisable to change the 

 title of our book from " Hints to Sportsmen" to that of the 

 " American Sportsman." 



The former appellation, considering the great variety of sub- 

 jects introduced, and the copiousness with which many of them 

 are treated, seemed rather too restricted in its signification, and 

 far less comi.irehensive in its general bearing than a work of 

 this character merited. Besides all this, the large additions as 

 well as alterations that we have made in the present Volume, 

 seemed still further to urge upon us the propriety of this chantje, 

 and more especially as the work in its entirely new and beauti- 

 ful gea7', can scarcely be regarded as the same Book, or even 

 recognized as the offspring of the first edition. We cannot 

 refrain from calling the attention of our Sporting friends to the 

 wood-cuts of the various Game-Birds, more especially those from 

 the hands of the Messrs. Louderback and lloflinan, and ]\[r. 

 Van Ingen, the most of which, in point of execution, have not 

 been equalled, let alone excelled, by anything of the kind be- 

 fore done in this country. 



To the former artists, Messrs. Louderback and Ilof^hian, more 

 particularly are we indebted for the skill and faithfulness with 

 which they have accomplished their work, and we cheerfully 

 acknowledge that their great attention to our suggestions, 

 coupled with a becoming ambition on their part to do that 

 which wtjuld be creditable to themselves, relieved us of much 

 trouble as well as anxiety. Of the truthfulness of these en- 

 gravings to nature Ave need say but little, as they speak for 

 themselves, the most of them being really very lifelike both 

 in position and expression. We may remark, however, en 

 passant, that eveiy Bird and every Fowl were sketched from 

 choice specimens obtained from the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, or from other equally good sources — and in almost 

 every instance, the drawings were subjected to the ai)i)roval of 

 our much esteemed friend, John Cassin, Esq., before the blocks 

 were placed in the hands of the Engravers. 



This latter circumstance alone should of itself be a sufiicient 

 guarantee of their correctness, as every one at all conversant 



