viii PREFACE. 



It is thus, that by studying the living manners of the differ- 

 ent tribes in their native retreats, we not only reconcile the singu- 

 larity of some parts of their conformation with divine wisdom; 

 but are enabled to comprehend the reason of many others, which 

 the pride of certain closet naturalists has arraigned as lame, de- 

 fective and deformed. 



One observation more may be added: the migrations of this 

 class of birds are more generally known and acknowledged than 

 that of most others. Their comparatively large size and immense 

 multitudes, render their regular periods of migration (so strenuous- 

 ly denied to some others) notorious along the whole extent of our 

 sea coast. Associating, feeding and travelling together in sach 

 prodigious and noisy numbers, it would be no less difficult to con- 

 ceal their arrival, passage and departure, than that of a vast army 

 through a thickly peopled country. Constituting also, as many of 

 them do, an 2'rticlc of food and Interest iimir>y he naturally be- 

 comes more intimately acquainted with their habits and retreats, 

 than with those feeble and minute kinds, which offer no such induce- 

 ment, and perform their migrations with more silence, in scattered 

 parties, unheeded or overlooked. Hence many of the Waders can 

 be traced from their summer abodes, the desolate regions of Green- 

 land and Spitzbergen, to the fens and sea shores of the West India 

 islands and South America, the usual places of their winter retreat, 

 while those of the Purple Martin and common Swallow still remain, 

 in vulgar beliefs wrapt up in all the darkness of mystery. 



The figures in the plates which accompany this volume have 

 been generally reduced to one half the dimensions of the living 



