343 



BIUDS, 



The United States are rich in birds, and, although 

 some of them have already been described, yet many 

 more remain, and wait the attention of the American 

 ornithologist.* 



Our countrymen are not aware of the numerous 

 facts that remain to be noticed upon this subject, and 

 of the original observations which it is in their power 

 to make. 



We are indebted to Dr. Barton for the greatest 

 body of collected information, respecting the Ame- 

 rican ornithology, which has as yet been presented 

 to the world, and may soon expect much more from 

 the same pen. His " Fragments of the Natural His- 

 tory of Pennsylvania,"! be considered as a va- 

 luable addition to our stock of natural history* Of 

 the Spring and Summer migratory birds of Penn- 

 sylvania, he enumerates one hundred; all of which, 

 with few exceptions, come from the south, and build 

 and breed in Pennsylvania. At the.close of the Sum- 

 mer and in the Autumn, they retire again to the south^ 

 and visit us in the Spring. Of the Autumnal and 

 Winter birds oifiassage^ he enumerates thirty-two; 

 these are divided into two classes, viz. the Spring 



* The snake bird of the southern states, among others^ is wanting 

 to add to the list of our natives ; a description of that bird, its peculi- 

 arities, and habits, would be an importsiiit addition to this interesting 

 branch of natural history, 



t Philadelphia, 1799. 



