CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 



INTRODUCTION 1 



Sec. I. Ornituologv Uei-inko — ButDS Defined — Bkiep Description of inEiK 

 Peculiar Covering 1 



Sec. II. An allusion to the C'lassuicatkjn of Bii;ds — Taxono.my — Struc- 

 ture — Characters — Groups of Different Grades — Types and Aber- 

 rations — Equia'alency — Analogy and Affinity — Exajiple 7 



Sec. III. Definition and brief Description of the Exterior of a Bird. — 

 Parts and Organs — I. The Body: iiEiU), neck a^jd body proper. — II. The 



MeJIBERS : BILL, WINGS, TAIL, FEET 13 



Sec. IV. Directions — How to Use the ICey. — How to Measure a Speci- 

 men, ETC 53 



ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE GENERA 01 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS OE NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. ...'.... C9 



SYNOPSIS OE THE FOSSIL EORMS 317 



ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS 351 



INDEX AND GLOSSARY 353 



