

PREFACE. 



THE intent of the following fheets is to give, as far as may 

 be, a concife account of all the Birds hitherto known ; no- 

 thing having been done in this way, as a general work, in the 

 Englifh language, of late years. 



In other countries, however, it has been paid more attention to j 

 witnefs that valuable work of M. Rri/fon* who has brought down 

 his account to the year 1760*, when he publifhed his Ornithology. 



That great and able Naturalift: M. de Buffon, is likewife pro- 

 ceeding faft with a grand work -f on the fame fubject, which, when 

 finifhed on the extenfive plan that he has chalked out for him- 

 felf, will do him much honour. Of this feven volumes are already 

 publifhed, and we are promifed two others in a very fhort time, 

 which are intended to clofe the undertaking. 



In this work of M. de Buffon, not only every thing which has 

 been treated of before is properly noticed, and the many contra- 



* This means only the edition in quarto ; for there is another edition in oc- 

 tavo, publifhed in 1763, which contains fome few additions. Whoever has pe- 

 rufed this work, will be fully convinced of the accuracy and precifion with which 

 this gentleman has treated the fubjeft throughout; and it is but juftice here to 

 acknowledge the liberty we have taken with thefe defcriptions, in refpeft to fach 

 Birds as have not fallen under our infpettiori. 



f Hijloire naturellc des Oifeavx> 



a dictions 



