2 
INTRODUCTION. 
and minute description of tlie form, and feathers, absolutely necessary. 
This would, in the opinion of some, be like introducing a gentleman to 
compan_y, Avith " ladies and gentlemen, Mr. . He has on a blue 
coat — white pantaloons — hussar boots," &e., &c., while a single glance of 
eye, over the person himself, told us all this before the oi'ator had time 
to open his mouth ; so infinitely more rapidly do ideas reach us through 
the medium of the eye, than l)y that of the ear. But as time may prey 
on the best of colors, what is necessary in this respect Avill by no means 
be omitted, that the figures and descriptions may mutually corroborate 
each other. It is also my design to enter more largely than usual into 
the manners and disposition of each respective species ; to become, as it 
were, their faithful biograplier, and to delineate their various peculiari- 
ties, in character, song, building, economy, &c., as far as my own obser- 
vations have extended, or the kindness of others may furnish me Avith 
materials. 
The Orxitiiology of the United States exhibits a rich display of the 
most si)lendid colors, from the green, silky, gold-bespangled down of 
the minute Iluniming-bird, scarce three inches in extent, to the black 
coppery wings of the gloomy Condor, of sixteen feet, who sometimes 
visits our northern regions — a numerous and powerful band of songsters, 
that for sweetness, variety, and melody, are surpassed by no country on 
earth- — an ever-changing scene of migration, from torrid to temperate 
and from northern to southern regions, in quest of suitable seasons, 
food, and climate ; and such an amazing diversity in habit, economy, 
form, disposition and faculties, so uniformly hereditary in each species, 
and so completely adequate to their peculiar wants and convenience, as 
to overwhelm us with astonishment at the power, wisdom and beneficence 
of the Creator ! 
In proportion as we become acquainted with these particulars, our 
visits to, and residence in the country, become more and more agreeable. 
Formerly, on such occasions, we found ourselves in solitude, or with 
respect to the feathered tribes, as if it were in a strange country, Avhere 
the manners, language and faces of all were either totally overlooked, 
or utterly unknown to us : now, Ave find ourselves among interesting and 
well-known neighbors and acquaintance ; and, in the notes of every 
songster, recognise Avith satisfaction the voice of an old friend and com- 
panion. A study thus tending to multiply our enjoyments at so cheap 
a rate, and to lead us, by such pleasing gradations, to the contemplation 
and Avorship of the Gre.at First Cause, the Father and Preserver of all, 
can neither be idle nor useless, but is Avorthy of rational beings, and 
doubtless agreeable to the Deity. 
In order to attain a more perfect knoAvledge of birds, naturalists have 
divided them into orders, genera, species, and varieties ; but in doing 
this, scarcely two have agreed on the same mode of arrangement, and 
