INTRODUCTION 



Ornithology is the science which has for its object 

 the investigation of the habits, affinities, and nature 

 of birds. This pursuit, at first sight so trivial, will, 

 if properly followed, be productive of many and im- 

 portant advantages. To enumerate and explain 

 these in all their ramifications would require volumes, 

 and even then, were the task performed by the most 

 enlarged and comprehensive mind our earth has ever 

 produced, it would still be imperfect, inasmuch as 

 the Being who created the objects of our investiga- 

 tion, is infinite — and the investigators, are finite. 

 On the present occasion, however, we can devote 

 only a few sentences to the subject, in which we 

 shall touch on two or three of the most obvious in- 

 ducements to the study. 



What a vivid charm those airy, ethereal winged 

 sprites, the feathered songsters, infuse into a country 

 life ! When Spring has gilded the meadows with 

 the golden kingcups, and enamelled the prairies with 

 the bright-eyed daisy, or when May, the 



Month of bees, and month of flowers, 

 Month of blossom-laden bowers, 



