PREFACE. lxiii 



Many other individuals have contributed their assistance in various 

 ways towards this attempt at illustrating the natural system. A 

 further enumeration might be tedious, but I cannot pass over the 

 liberality experienced from Sir James M'Gregor in allowing numerous 

 specimens from the Fort Pitt Museum at Chatham to be sent for 

 examination. — The great instruction I have derived from a large col- 

 lection of Mexican Birds in the possession of John Taylor, Esq., the 

 well-known Secretary of the Geological Society — and an inspection of 

 the noble collection of drawings made under the superintendence of 

 General Hardwicke, during his Zoological researches in British 

 India. 



It is almost unnecessary to add how much I am indebted to the 

 invaluable works of Le Vaillant, Wilson, Azara, and Sonnini, 

 since their names will so frequently occur in the following pages. 

 These men studied nature, unshackled by system, and they have thus 

 rendered their works imperishable. Of this school, it is deeply to be 

 lamented that nearly the only living member is my friend Mr. Audubon. 

 I regret much that his instructive Ornithological Biography issued 

 from the press nearly at the time this was terminated. It is replete 

 with facts of the highest interest. From purely systematic writers, I 

 have derived comparatively but little assistance. 



Such have been the ample materials which I have now endeavoured 

 to combine ; with what success it is not for me to judge. If such 

 parts of the great scheme of Nature as are already known have been 

 better illustrated, or one step has been made towards the further 

 developement of her first principles, my chief object has been 

 attained. Sw. 



