POR Ee ACC, 
~ 
FT tias been frequently remarked that the productions of distant countries have received a much 
larger share of attention than those objects by which we are more immediately surrounded ; 
and it is certainly true, that while numerous and costly illustrations have made us acquainted 
with the Ornithology of most other parts of the world, the Birds of Europe, in which we are, 
or ought to be, most interested, have not received that degree of attention which they naturally 
demand. The present work has been undertaken to supply this deficiency, and I cannot but 
feel highly gratified that a number of concurring circumstances have enabled me to carry my 
intentions into effect with comparative facility, and I hope to the entire satisfaction of the 
whole of the Subscribers ; this I am induced to believe is the case from the patronage with 
which the work has been honoured since its commencement. 
My reasons for undertaking a work comprising the ornithology of ae whole of Europe are 
sufficiently obvious: in the first place no publication of a similar kind had been completed, 
although several had been commenced ; and secondly, a work exclusively confined to the British 
Fauna would never be perfect for any length of time, owing to the frequent accession of other 
species from various European localities; besides which I was desirous of rendering my work 
interesting to the continental ornithologists as well as to those of our own country. I have used 
my best exertions to render it as perfect as possible up to the present time, for which purpose I 
have visited nearly all the continental collections with the view of examining personally every 
bird before figuring it; but should additional species reward the zeal and ardour with which 
natural history is now cultivated (which I doubt not will be the case), I propose to publish 
them from time to time in the form of a Supplement, and by this means keep the work as 
nearly complete as possible. I have omitted a few of the species enumerated in the lists of 
wih 
