INTRODUCTION. 
SI 
esteemed both by the ornithologist and artist. 
The other work above alluded to will bear a higher 
rank in science, though, perhaps, its general 
patronage has not been nearly so ample. In 1802, 
Colonel Montague published the first part of his 
Ornithological Dictionary, a work professing no 
arrangement, but having the titles of the birds 
alphabetically arranged, as indicated by the title. 
A few years afterwards, a supplement was found 
necessary, and contained nearly as much as the 
first publication. In these volumes we have a 
great mass of information relative to the habits 
and manners of our British birds, a department 
which had been scarcely yet touched upon ; all 
that was previously known was compiled, while 
the whole results of the Colonel’s experience are 
given in addition. The subjects are ably treated ; 
the confusion which had prevailed from the 
changes of plumage incident to the young and to 
the old, in breeding season and in winter, were 
explained ; and many ingenious opinions, of which 
proof had not been established, were then ex- 
pressed, and of which the results have since 
shewn with what accuracy the author had ob- 
served. Several specieswerenow, forthe first time, 
described and added to our Fauna. 
We have yet another work to notice before 
we complete our brief survey of those devoted 
more exclusively to this branch of the science. 
F 
