INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. xvii 



of the size which nature has given to them. As one of the first 

 ornitliologists of the age, who kindly reviewed a few numbers 

 of the Plates, has spoken upon this subject in a manner which 

 I cannot here use, I refer you to his observations. The name 

 of SwAiNsoN is, doubtless, well known to you. Permit me 

 also to lead you, for a defence of my resolution in this matter, 

 to one, who, being the centre of zoological science, is well en- 

 titled to yom* deference in a question relating to Ornithology. 

 You will readily apprehend that I allude to the great, the im- 

 mortal CuviER. 



Secondly, As to the time necessary for finishing my Work, 

 I have only to observe, that it will be less than the period fre- 

 quently given by many persons to the maturation of certain 

 wines placed in their cellars, several years previous to the com- 

 mencement of my work, and which will not be considered ca- 

 pable of imparting their full relish until many years after the 

 conclusion of the " Birds of America." 



Since I became acquainted with Mr Alexander Wilson, 

 the celebrated author of the well-known and duly appreciated 

 work on American Birds, and subsequently with my excellent 

 friend Charles Lucian Bonaparte, I have been aware of 

 the keenness with which every student of Natural History 

 presses forward to describe an object of his ovni discovery, or 

 that may have occurred to travellers in distant countries. There 

 seems to be a pride, a glory in doing this, that thrusts aside 

 every other consideration ; and I really believe that the ties of 

 friendship itself would not prevent some naturalists from even 

 robbing an old acquaintance of the merit of first describing a 

 previously vmknown object. Although I have certainly felt very 

 great pleasure, when, on picking up a bird, I discovered it to be 



B 



