O INTRODUCTION. 



The drawings of birds and flo-wers for this and all succeed- 

 ing volumes, will be by her ; and I rest most proud and happy 

 with such a "help-mete" in my labors! 



In presenting this first volume to the Public, I have felt 

 a proper diffidence in regard to the whole subject of scientific 

 classification, and have therefore solicited and fortunately ob- 

 tained aid in the highest legitimate quarter known amongst us. 



Mr. John Cassin, the Secretary of the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences in Philadelphia, has consented to edit, with me, the 

 future volumes of the series ; so that my subscribers and readers 

 may not only rely upon the scientific accuracy of the work 

 through his learned supervision of this department, but may 

 as well look for a ripe, quaint and scholastic vein of humor, 

 such as has seldom been brought to bear upon such themes, 

 and which will form a pleasing contrast with my own head- 

 long methods. I thus hope to ofier a work which shall be 

 complete in itself, as a Salmagundi^pL the facts, thoughts 

 and suggestions of the natural world, witl| enough of technical 

 accuracy to constitute it a reliable authority to the Student 

 of Science, and a sufficiency of genial reverence, gaiety and 

 kindliness, to render it always a safe, welcome and valued 

 companion of the fireside, into the chaste penetralia of which I 

 so much desire to win my way. We should not be permitted to 

 rest unconscious of the sacred serenities of Nature ; all the har- 

 monies rest therein and they bring peace with them ! Though 

 men may grow callous and dumb in listening forever to the 

 clink of dollars, shall not the sense of their fair children be 

 attuned to voices more soft, more mellowed, more divine ! 



In conclusion, I would remark, that for my wood-cuts I 

 am indebted to Mr. Joseph T. Brightly, who has not only 

 performed his part as an engraver ably, but has with an 

 unexpected skill, thrown himself into the department of 

 design, and furnished me with the rough draughts of many 

 of my finest wood-cuts. To Mr. A. Woodsil!^, artist of this 

 city, I am also much indebted for a number of highly artistic 

 drawings on wood. 



