PREFACE. 



■ ■ Mi ' ig i f » < ♦ 4 M flw - ' ■ - 



-A. L T H O U G H the multiplicity of works on 

 Ornithology, would feem to preclude the neceffity 

 of the prefent publication, a very general complaint pre- 

 vails, that among all the modern writers on Britifh 

 Ornithology, few have taken the neceffary pains to mark 

 out the different fpecies ; the works of Bewick, Mon- 

 tague, and a few others excepted. But even thefe, 

 however excellent in themfelves, fall fhort of convey- 

 ing a correct idea of the fubject treated of; the want of 

 plates in the latter, and of their being coloured in the 

 former, are to be regretted, as the moft laboured de- 

 fcription mull fail of conveying a juft idea of any 

 fubject of Natural Hiftory in refpe6l to its colours. 



Impreffed with this conviction, and being inpolFeffiori 

 of a confiderable number of excellent drawings and 

 engravings, made for the late William Curtis, who 

 had a fimilar publication in view, the author, with 

 diffidence, fubmits the following pages to the attention 

 pf an enlightened Public, confcious that he has fpared 

 no exertions to render them worthy of the attentive 

 perufal of the admirers of this beautiful and interefting 

 part of animated nature; at the fame time he folicits 



the 



