ADVERTISEMENT. 
tiful Birds, in addition to thofe which are interefting to the 
naturalift: for a confiderable number of the Britifh fpecies 
are fo well known, that their hiftory would be tedious, and 
the figures unneceffary, in 2 work profeffedly defigned to 
treat of the moft remarkable fpecies only. Not that we 
have entirely overlooked the common Birds; in feveral in- 
ftances fome of thefe are introduced alfo, to point out their 
fingular habits of life, and other interefling pecuharities ; 
but, in general, we have endeavoured to form an inftructive 
as well as amufine illuftration of this department of Natural 
Hiftory. 
Tt will perhaps be contended, that a complete colleétion 
of figures and defcriptions of all the Britith Birds, would 
be more acceptable than any partial felection, however com- 
prehenfive. We admit the propriety of this objection ; 
but muft obferve, that fuch addition would confiderably 
increafe the expenfe to the purchafer, and {carcely contri~ 
bute to his information. On the other hand, this work, in 
its prefent limits, may affift the refearches of the uninformed 
naturalift, and tend ta promote a deeper and more extenfive 
enquiry into this branch of fcience. It embraces in one 
view the whole of thofe Britith Birds that are {carcely known, 
and of which the inquifitive reader, under many circum- 
ftances, may be defirous of information. We have omitted 
many of thofe Birds which conftantly inhabit this country ; 
but have included all local fpecies, and in particular, thofe, 
A 2 whofe 
