vi PREFACE. 



employed in works of this kind, gives great softness and eflect to 

 the plumage. These and various other arrangements have added 

 heavily to the expense of the publication; but his chief object being 

 a faithful imitation of nature, worthy the esteem of that distinguished 

 portion of the community by whom it is supported, and honorable to 

 the arts and literature of the nation, no obstacles of a mere pecuniary 

 nature have been permitted to stand in the way. Where he fails, (as 

 he often will) want of adequate talents alone must plead his excuse. 



The approbation which this attempt, to collect and pourtray 

 the feathered tribes of the United States, has been honored with, 

 both in this country and in Europe, gratifying as it is to the feelings 

 of the author, convinces him, how much still remains to be done 

 before he can hope fully to merit these generous encomiums. It is 

 not sufficient that a work of this kind should speak to the eye alone, 

 its portraits should reach the heart, particularly of our youth, who 

 are generally much interested with subjects of this kind. By en- 

 tering minutely into the manners of this beautiful portion of the 

 animate creation, and faithfully exhibiting them as they are, senti- 

 ments of esteem, humanity and admiration will necessarily result. 

 It is chiefly owing to ignorance of their true character, that some 

 of our thoughtless youth delight in wantonly tormenting and de- 

 stroying those innocent warblers ; for who can either respect, pity 

 or admire what they are totally unacquainted with ? I am per- 

 suaded that no child would injure and abuse even a harmless worm, 

 with whose economy and mode of life he was intimately acquaint- 

 ed. Those few birds who, by their innocent familiarity, have made 

 themselves generally known, are as generally regarded. Witness 



