PREFACE. ix 



As to what still remains to be done, let the following slight 

 sketch suffice. The number of plates for each volume being fixed, 

 the size of the volume will depend, as heretofore, on the characters 

 of the birds being more or less interesting. The present is more 

 so than the preceding, and contains a number of noted birds whose 

 histories will be found to be fully detailed. A wish to reduce as 

 few of the drawings from the full size as possible, may sometimes 

 lessen the number of figures ; but the value of those given will al- 

 ways, in this case, be increased, by the greater pains and expense 

 bestowed on their execution. 



In the sixth volume the Woodcock, Snipe, Partridge, Ruffed 

 Grous or Pheasant, the Rail, the beautiful Ground Dove of the 

 southern states, numbers of Hawks, some of them very rare. Owls, 

 Buzzards, Vultures, &c. &c. will make their appearance. The en* 

 gravers being already considerably advanced with these, it is con- 

 fidently hoped that no delay will be experienced beyond the regu- 

 lar time of publication. 



The seventh volume will introduce the Grallae or Waders, a 

 numerous order of birds in the United States. The greater part 

 of these being too large to be represented in full size, will be re- 

 duced from the original drawings by the author himself, with as 

 much precision as he is capable of, and in such manner that all the 

 figures exhibited on the same plate will be reduced by the same 

 scale ; thereby preserving a correct idea of their relative as well 

 as apparent natural magnitude. Some of these are new; and pe- 

 culiarities will be pointed out in many of them which are truly 



singular and interesting. The tenth volume, with a complete in- 

 VOL. V. c 



