ADDRESS. 



T 



JL HE liberal Patronage with which the History of British Insects 

 has been honoured, has induced the Proprietors to extend their Views, and 

 refpeftfully to folicit the Encouragement of the Public to a farther Difplay 

 of the Natural Produftions of our Native Country. They have determined, 

 under the Title of a Natural History of British Birds, to produce 

 an elegantly finifhed Colleftion of Plates of the moft interefting among 

 thofe which inhabit this Country. This Work will be an handfome Com- 

 |)anion to their Entomology; and, to render it an acceptable Acqui, 

 fition, as well to the Man of Science as the Amateur of Natural Hiftory, 

 the Linn3;an Defcriptions will be united with other Information. 



This Defign cannot, it is hoped, fail to meet with public Approbation 

 and Encouragement ; for though there are already feveral valuable Works 

 including this Divifion of Zoology, yet they are of fuch Expence as to 

 exclude all Purchafers except the very Affluent ; while this will offer to a 

 much more general Clafs of Readers an elegant Natural History of 

 British Birds. 



The Proprietors being refolved to execute the Work with Accuracy and 

 Elegance, have, at a very conliderable Expence, colleded the living, or 

 preferved Specimens of all the Birds intended for the Publication, whence 

 the Figures will be drawn, engraved, and coloured. 



In the firft Contemplation of this Work, the Proprietors Intended to 

 have produced a complete Illuftration of all the Birds that inhabit this 

 Ifland, amounting together to more than 2jo Subjefts : But confidering 

 the Extent of fuch a Produftiou, they have fince preferred giving Figures 

 only of thofe that are moft remarkable, beautiful, or rare : Their Sub- 

 fcribers having, hcwever, after its Completion, been difpofed te offer 

 further Encouragement, a concife Supplement will be added. 



The Proprietors, though well affured that they might fay much more in 

 Praife of the propofed Execution of this Work, without exceeding the 

 Truth, will not hazard the Appearance of Exaggeration. They prefer 

 the Approbation which wil! undoubtedly attend the aftual Merit of Per- 

 formance, to any Eagernefs of Expedlation in the Public which their Pro- 

 mifes might raife, 



N. B. The whole V/ork, being printed off, may be had complete, ip 

 iBve Volumes. Price in Boards, 7I. 15s. 



