32 NOTICE OF THE CHAPTERS. 



sentation of a species, generally a British one, by 

 which the reader may know his bird ; and then, the 

 pleasant as well as the profitable way, is to go into 

 wild nature, and find out its conduct and character 

 there. 



In the remaining three chapters, I have entered 

 somewhat at large into the three great systems of the 

 bill, the feet, and the wings. In all these, there will 

 be found illustrations of the most typical specimens, 

 which have been, for the most part, carefully drawn 

 from nature, and in many instances from the living 

 bird, so that their accuracy may be depended on ; 

 and here, also, I have inserted a portrait of an entire 

 bird, whenever I thought it would serve either as an 

 illustration, or as an incentive to further enquiry. 



Of the execution I cannot judge ; but the public 

 have aheady given me crecUt in this respect, and I 

 would not willingly deserve to fall off in their good 

 opinion. I think that the chief merit is in the plan; 

 and this, after all, to use a homely expression, con- 

 sists in its being apparently— no plan at all. 



ROBERT MUDIE. 



Grove Cottage, Chelsea^ 

 Nov. 10, 1834.. 



