XX INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 



species are well known. Tables of synonyms I have also judged 

 superfluous. Indeed, the technical descriptions and references 

 you will find as appendages to the more generally interesting 

 descriptions of the habits of each species ; so that you may read 

 them or not, just as you please. Yet, should you be inclined 

 to enter into these matters, I trust you will find in these ap- 

 pendages descriptions constructed according to the strictest rules 

 of science. 



Should you, good-natured reader, be a botanist, I hope you 

 will find pleasure while looking at the flowers, the herbs, the 

 shrubs, and the trees, which I have represented ; the more so, 

 I imagine, if you have seen them in their native woods. Should 

 you not, the sight of them in my Illustrations may, for aught 

 I know, tempt you to go and partake of the hospitality of our 

 brethren the Aborigines of America. 



Permit me now to address a few words to the Critic, who I 



fervently hope is a good-natured reader too. This I do with 



much deference. He has seen my Illustrations, and has judged 



favourably of them ; he has passed his keen eye over this page ; 



he knows the very moderate strength of my talents; and I 



have only to add, with my compliments, that ever since I have 



known that such a person as himself exists, I have laboiu-ed 



harder, with more patience and with more care, to gain his good 



will, indulgence, and support. 



JOHN J. AUDUBON. 



Edinburgh, 

 3Iarch 1831. 



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