BIRDS 



The Ornithology of North America has hitherto had a full share of attention. 

 Forster, in the Philosophical Transactions ior 1772, and Hearne, in his account of his 

 journeys, are original authorities, relative to many of the native birds of Hudson's 

 Bay; the scientific compilations of Latham and Pennant record all that was known 

 up to the dates of their respective works. Since their time we have the assistance 

 of the splendid publication of Vieillot on the Birds of North America, whilst the 

 accounts given by Captain Sabine, of the Zoology collected in the two voyages which 

 he made to the Polar Seas, have made the feathered tribes of the Arctic regions 

 familiar to us. The description of the birds collected in the voyage with Captain 

 Ross to Baffin's Bay, will be found in the twelfth volume, of the Transactions of the 

 Linnean Society ; the account of the Zoology seen during the expedition to Melville 

 Island has been published as a Supplemental Appendix to Captain Parry's account of 

 that voyage. 



There would, however, with all these, have been much wanting, but for the pub- 

 lication of Wilson's American Ornithology. Untaught, and without the aid of 

 scientific books, he has produced a work which, for correctness of description, accu- 

 racy of observation, and acuteness of distinction, will compete with every publication 

 of natural history yet extant : nor is it alone on these excellencies that the character 

 of his book stands so high ; the beauty of the style, and perspicuity of the narrative, 

 add unrivalled charms to its scientific merits. The information contained in his 

 volumes, has made the composition of the following notices a work of comparative 

 ease. It is hoped, however, that, notwithstanding the greater part of the birds have 

 been previously well known, some additional lights have been afforded, and it is very 

 agreeable to add, that a few subjects are entirely new. 



The general arrangement of Genera proposed by M. Temminck, in the introduction 

 to the second edition of the Manuel d'Ornithologie, has been exactly followed, and in 

 every case the birds have received his generic names. 



Considering the length of time passed in the journey from York Factory to Point 

 Turnagain, and in the return, and the different tracts of country passed through, it 

 will be obvious, that nearly all the birds which are inhabitants of the upper portions 

 of America must have occurred to the observation of the travellers ; and, conse- 

 quently, that the account might include the whole Ornithology of northern America. 



