PREFACE. 



Although the science of Ornithology has already many 

 votaries, it is presumed that it can be rendered more gene- 

 rally interesting by a combination with Poetry, an attempt 

 at which is here made ; with what success must be left to 

 the public to determine. 



Having made the attempt, the author will not, of course, 

 be understood as agreeing with the sentiment expressed by 

 an ancient writer, namely, that 



Miranda canunt sed non credenda Poetce. 



Cato. 



For, although, doubtless, one of the objects of the Poet 

 ought to be to excite attention, and, if you please, with 

 our ancient, admiration, yet poor indeed must that poetry 

 be which excites admiration and nothing else. Perhaps 

 the author's notions concerning poetry might not be in ex- 

 act accordance with the opinions of those who affect to be, 

 or who are considered, the arbiiri elegantiarum, but he ne- 

 vertheless thiuks that the Poetry, however admirable, 

 however splendid, which neither instructs, reforms, nor 

 persuades, is good for little ; hence the non credenda, in 

 the passage above quoted, is not admissible as a general 

 truism. He thinks, indeed, that Poetry ought, if possible, 

 always to be made subservient to Truth — its handmaid ; 

 not, as is too frequently the case, — Truth made subservient 



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