viii EDITOR'S PREFACE. 
Wilson's Ornithology, by Charles L. Bonaparte," in the Journal of the 
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Volumes III. and IV. ; 
the " Synopsis of the Birds of the United States," by the same author, 
in the Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York ; but 
principally to George Ord, Esq., the friend and associate of Wilson, who 
has kindly afforded, his valuable counsel and assistance, and has added 
some highly interesting notes. 
Mr. Ord has likewise permitted the birds, contained in his supple- 
mentary volume, to be incorporated with, and his sketch of the life of 
Wilson to be prefixed to, the work. 
The original plates, engraved under the eye of Wilson, are employed 
in this edition, after having been carefully examined and retouched by 
Mr. xllexander Lawson, by whom most of them were executed ; and 
who as an engraver of objects of natural history, stands unrivalled. 
The birds have been colored by skilful artists, from recent specimens, 
or from the beautiful preparations belonging to the Philadelphia Museum. 
The improvements made in the arts within the last few years, have 
removed many of the difficulties that Wilson encountered in this depart- 
ment ; and it is therefore confidently believed that in the permanency, 
brilliancy and accuracy of the coloring, the plates of the present edition 
are, at least, not inferior to those of the original. 
