PREFACE. 



In preparing the following Catalogue, the object of the writer has 

 been to present in a simple and compact form the Ornithology of a 

 small portion of North America, comprising that part of Pennsyl- 

 vania eastward of the Alleghany Mountains, and of New Jersey, 

 including the coast line which extends from Sandy Hook to Cape 

 May. From the geographical position of the district it is particu- 

 larly favourable for observation, being the resort, at some period of 

 the year, of a large proportion of the birds of this continent; and, 

 from the fact of its being the temporary resting-place of most of 

 the migratory birds, there is probably no district of the same extent 

 in this country that is frequented by such a number of species. 

 A considerable number of our Summer visitants from the Gulf 

 States and Mexico appear to make it their northern limit, while 

 other flocks remain only a short period in Spring, and migrate still 

 further north, penetrating as far as British America to breed ; and 

 these again arrive in Autumn on their return journey to their 

 Winter retreats. It may likewise be noted that the district is the 

 southern limit of many species which breed at Hudson's Bay and 

 the fur countries, and pass the Winter on the Delaware and Chesa- 

 peake, thus forming a line of separation, so to speak, for the 

 migratory flights of many interesting birds coming from opposite 

 directions. 



On consulting the list, however, it will be remarked that the 

 proportion of what may be considered resident birds is small. This 

 fact seems to have attracted observation as far back as the time of 

 Dr Benj. S. Barton, who published a work entitled " Fragments of 

 Natural Histoiy" about seventy years ago, in which it is stated that 

 in the district now spoken of, very few species remained all the year, 

 and that even of these there appeared to have been a partial migra- 

 tion in severe Winters; such birds, especially, as lived on insects 

 and small fruits, being compelled to retire southwards — a fact still 

 noticeable at the pres'ent day, many species that usually migrate 

 remaining in mild and open Winters. Closer observation of late 

 years, however, has enabled ornithologists to affirm with certainty 



