viii PREFACE. 



and a name" — collected from personal observation whatever of 

 their characters and manners seemed deserving of attention; and 

 delineated their forms and features, in their native colors, as faith- 

 fully as he could, as records, at least, of their existence. 



In treating of those birds more generally known, I have en- 

 deavoured to do impartial justice to their respective characters. 

 Ignorance and stubborn-rooted opinions, even in this country, have 

 rendered some odious that are eminently useful; and involved the 

 manners of others in fable and mystery, which in themselves are 

 plain and open as day. To remove prejudices when they oppose 

 themselves to the influence of humanity is a difficult, but when ef- 

 fected, a most pleasing employment. If therefore, in divesting this 

 part of the natural history of our country of many of its fables and 

 most forbidding features, and thus enabling our youth to become 

 more intimately acquainted with this charming portion of the fea- 

 thered creation, I should have succeeded in multiplying their vir- 

 tuous enjoyments, and in rendering them more humane to those 

 little choristers, how gratifying to my heart would be the reflection! 

 For to me it appears, that of all inferior creatures Heaven seems 

 to have intended birds as the most cheerful associates of man; to 

 soothe and exhilarate him in his labours by their varied melody, of 

 which no other creature, but man, is capable; to prevent the in- 

 crease of those supernumerary hosts of insects that would soon con- 

 sume the products of his industry; to glean up the refuse of his 

 fields " that nothing be lost," and, what is of much more interest, 

 to be to him the most endearing examples of the tenderest connu- 

 bial love and parental affection. 



