mi 



PREFACE. 



In every department of Zoology, I believe, pictorial 

 representation, even though not of the most finished 

 character, is better qualified to give a good idea of the 

 object intended than the most accurate description. 

 Such at least is the case in Ornithology ; and the com- 

 parative neglect shown to what would seem likely to be 

 one of the most attractive branches of Natural History, 

 may perhaps be partly attributed to the scarcity of works 

 containing coloured illustrations of birds, and their 

 usually excessive costliness. The present volume is the 

 result of an attempt to contribute something towards 

 meeting these deficiencies, by giving figures of an inter- 

 esting group of this class of animals, sufficiently accurate 

 for all scientific purposes, and at a price which, it is 

 hoped, will render it not unattainable to many, who have 

 hitherto been generally precluded from acquiring books 

 of this sort. The work is not expected to be a profitable 

 undertaking, but, should a number of copies be disposed 

 of sufficient nearly to meet the expenses of publication, 

 it is in contemplation to issue other volumes of a similar 



character. 



P. L. S. 



49 Pall Mall, Dec. 1, 1857- 



