xii INTRODUCTION. 
from Boston, and loud murmurs were uttered by the soi- 
disant friends of science, who objected to my seeing, much less 
portraying and describing those valuable relics of birds, many 
of which had not yet been introduced into our Fauna. The 
traveller’s appetite is much increased by the knowledge of the 
distance which he has to tramp before he can obtain a meal ; 
and with me the desire of obtaining the specimens in ques- 
tion increased in proportion to the difficulties that presented 
themselves. Having ascertained the names of the persons best 
able or most willing to assist me on this occasion, and aided 
by Tuomas Nurratt, who had now arrived, Drs PicKERING, 
Haran, S. G. Morton, Secretary to the Academy of Natural 
Sciences, M‘Murrriez, TrupEav, and above all my friend 
Epwarp Harris, who offered to pay for them with the view 
of presenting them to me, I at length succeeded. It was 
agreed that I might purchase duplicates, provided the specific 
names agreed upon by Mr Nurratt and myself were published 
in Dr TownsENp’s name. This latter part of the affair was 
perfectly congenial to my feelings, as I have seldom cared 
much about priority in the naming of species. I therefore 
paid for the skins which I received, and have now published 
such as proved to be new, according to my promise. But, let 
me assure you, Reader, that seldom, if ever in my life, have I 
felt more disgusted with the conduct of any opponents of 
mine, than I was with the unfriendly boasters of their zeal 
for the advancement of ornithological science, who at the time 
existed in the fair city of Philadelphia. 
From Philadelphia | bent my course toward Baltimore, 
where I spent a few days. Before leaving the former city, 
my good friend Epwarp Harris had promised to join us at 
