VI 



PREFACE. 



Having been informed that Mr. (now I believe 

 Professor) Macgillivray, in the first volume of 

 his Ornithology, has compared me to the carrion 

 crow, a bird acknowledged by the world at 

 large, to be of bad character and filthy habits ; 

 I take this opportunity (as I have not the com- 

 mand of a press) to observe that I am not aware 

 bow I have procured the honour of such a dis- 

 tinguished attention ; and at the same time to 

 thank him for the store of tainted food which 

 he has helped to place in the Biography of 

 Birds , for the benefit of us needy ones of 

 rapine and ill omen. 



A word also of Mr. Swainson. He has 

 accused me in the Cabinet Cyclopedia, edited 

 by the unfortunate Doctor Lardner, of a " con- 

 stant propensity to dress truth in the garb of 

 fiction!" I need say no more if the reader 

 will do me the favour to peruse a former letter 

 of mine to Mr. Swainson. In justice to myself 

 I have appended it to the present work. 



