INTRODUCTION. 
THREE years have nearly elapsed since | had the pleasure 
of presenting you with the third volume of my “ Ornithological 
Biography,” and about twelve since the first fasciculus of my 
“ Tllustrations of the Birds of America” was submitted to your 
inspection. This work, comprising four hundred and thirty-five 
plates, and one thousand and sixty-five figures, was finished on 
the 20th of June 1838, without the continuity of its execution 
having been broken for a single day, and the numbers having 
been delivered with exemplary regularity; for all which I am 
indebted to my friend and Engraver, Mr Robert HavEL. Once 
more surrounded by all the members of my dear family, en- 
joying the countenance of numerous friends who have never 
deserted me, and possessing a competent share of all that can 
render life agreeable, I look up with gratitude to the Supreme 
Being, and feel that I am happy. 
The adventures and vicissitudes which have fallen to my 
lot, instead of tending to diminish the fervid enthusiasm of my 
nature, have imparted a toughness to my bodily constitution, 
naturally strong, and to my mind, naturally buoyant, an 
elasticity, such as to assure me that, though somewhat old, 
