iv PREFACE. 



by his skill and attention to the duties assigned him ; and who 

 has given assurance of continuing his assistance until the whole 

 is completed. With such a coadjutor, our labors, in that depart- 

 ment, will be considerably lightened; and with deference we hope, 

 that the public will not so readily perceive the absence of that 

 hand, whose delicate touches imparted hues and animation to the 

 pictured " denizens of the air," which might almost vie with the 

 interesting originals themselves. 



The present volume contains much valuable matter; and 

 when viewed as the last fruit of the fertile and philosophical mind 

 of its amiable author, will be doubtless received with no ordinary 

 degree of attention. In it we are presented with correct and highly 

 finished delineations of the whole of that interesting and useful 

 tribe, the Anas genus, that frequent our waters. The histories 

 of some are necessarily imperfect, as they are but partially known, 

 and seldom permit an opportunity of investigation. Others from 

 their habits not exciting much interest, have been too much ne- 

 glected by naturalists ; and the biographer of their simple lives 

 was condemned, however repugnant to his wishes and intentions, 

 to pass them over in a brief and unsatisfactory manner. But the 

 historian has had it in his power to confer that justice on a fewj 

 whose merits have been considered by ornithologists and connois- 

 seurs as of the first order, to which they are fairly entitled ; and 

 his faithful recitals, we trust, will amply reward attention; as nei- 

 ther pains nor expense has been spared to obtain correct informa- 



With the exception of the Swan, a good specimen of which Mr. W. ayes never enahled to procure. 



