INTRODUCTION. 



gether : considering these circumstances, and that during the num- 

 ber of years which the completion of the present work will neces- 

 sarily occupy, the best opportunities will be afforded, and every en- 

 deavour used, to procure drawings of the whole, a different mode 

 has been adopted, as being more agreeably diversified, equally illus- 

 trative of the science, and perfectly practicable ; which the other is 

 not. The Birds will, therefore, appear without regard to generical 

 arrangement; but the order, genus, &c. of each will be particularly 

 noted; and a complete Index added to the whole, in which every 

 species will be arranged in systematic order, with reference to the 

 volume, page, and plate, where each figure and description may be 

 instantly found. 



From the great expense of engravings executed by artists of 

 established reputation, many of those who have published works of 

 this kind, have had recourse to their own ingenuity in etching their 

 plates ; but, however honorable this might have been to their in- 

 dustry, it has been injurious to the effect intended to be produced 

 by the figures ; since the point, alone, is not sufficient to produce a 

 finished engraving; and many years of application are necessary 

 to enable a person, whatever may be his talents or diligence, to 

 handle the graver with the facility and effect of the pencil ; while 

 the time, thus consumed, might be more advantageously employed 

 in finishing drawings, and collecting facts for the descriptive part, 

 which is the proper province of the Ornithologist. Every person 

 who is acquainted with the extreme accuracy of eminent engravers, 

 must likewise be sensible of the advantage of having the imperfec- 

 tions of the pencil corrected by the excellence of the graver. Every 

 improvement of this kind the author has studiously availed himself 

 of; and has frequently furnished the artist with the living or newly- 

 killed subject itself to assist his ideas. 



In coloring the impressions, the same scrupulous attention has 

 been paid to imitate the true tints of the original. The greatest 

 number of the descriptions, particularly those of the nests, eggs, 



