iv INTRODUCTION. 
All of Part First is criginal. In preparing objects of 
natural history [ have ina great degrce invented methods 
of my own, and have not given in this work a single 
one that L have not tested and proved equal to all oth 
ers, if not superior. To avoid confusion, I have given 
ouly the methed which experience has taught me to le 
the best. 
In this connection my thanks are due to Mr. E. L. 
Weeks, whose excellent illustrations will be found to add 
greatly to the value of the work. 
In Part Second I have thought proper to add a cata- 
logue of the birds of Eastern Massachusetts, with notes, 
as tending to enable the collector to obtain the rarer spe- 
cies more readily, by specifying the localities and peculiar 
haunts in which they have been found by others. The 
critical notes may, perhaps, be perused with interest by 
the more experienced ornithologist. 
