PREFACE. 
I cannot allow the present volume to meet the 
public eye, without offering a few remarks upon the 
design and execution of this work. The etchings do 
not pretend to any merit beyond that of fidelity of 
delineation, upon a scale hitherto unattempted, and 
to that spirit and character which will generally at- 
tend drawings made, as much as possible, from living 
specimens. With respect to the letter-press, I have 
not professed to give a complete history of British 
Birds, and have not, therefere, drawn together into 
one focus all that has been better said by other writers 
upon the subject ; but have contented myself with re- 
ferring, by occasional notes, to any anecdotes particu- 
larly interesting as to the species under consideration. 
The present work bears the title only of Illustrations, 
and, as such, I was chiefly anxious to clear the syste- 
matic arrangement, of such discrepancies as still exist- 
ed; to condense the species, by excluding such en- — 
largements as had arisen from a want of strict atten- 
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