of the " Birds of America^ 31 



only the immature bird of the Faico Sancti Johannisy 

 Gmel. 



In addition to thiS; the visits of Audubon to tlie breed- 

 ing places of many other of our rare birds in the extreme 

 North and South of our country, enabled him to investi- 

 gate their habits more fully, and to describe them more 

 correctly, than has ever been done before. 



If the inquiry be made^ what prospect there will be for 

 the continuation of this work, in case the author should 

 not live to complete it, I am happy to say, that its pub- 

 lication is secured, beyond the fear of accidents. The 

 drawings of the birds for the whole work are nearly com- 

 pleted, the materials for their history are collected and 

 recorded, and there exists sufficient acquirement, m the 

 members of his interesting and talented family, to carry on 

 the work. 



Let the literary world but award to Audubon the jus- 

 tice which he merits, let the public continue to be 

 indulgent and liberal, and this work cannot fail to prove 

 a very important acquisition to the Natural History of 

 America, nor to reflect the highest credit on the liberality 

 of the British public, that has hitherto so efficiently aided 

 him in the publication of it, nor to establish an abiding 

 monument to the fame of its author ; whilst it must con- 



of 



and 



phenomena of nature, in one of the most mteresting de- 

 partments of her works. 



