VI 
PREFACE. 
spects, to satisfy me, the arrangement will, I trust, be found 
in some degree useful. It will be seen that, although I have 
adopted many of the modern groups, I have not sectioned 
our birds on so minutely divided a scale as that employed by 
some recent writers. Besides the characters of th^ Families, 
Genera, and Species, which are given with considerable de- 
tail, I have presented a short account of the Geographical Dis- 
tribution of the species, and references to the principal authors 
by whom they have been described. I am confident that 
these notices will sufi&ce to enable the student to determine 
with certainty any species that may come under his consi- 
deration, and that the information respecting its habits, 
which he will find in the works referred to, will afibrd him 
at least sufficient knowledge to form a basis for the more 
extended observation which he may contemplate. To the 
name of the genus I have appended that of the author by 
whom it has been instituted; and with the specific names I 
have dealt in the same manner, giving as authorities the 
individuals who first employed them, although they may 
have referred them to different genera. It is probable that 
many errors have been made in this department ; but I shall 
be happy to see them corrected, as my wish is to do justice 
to all. 
On this occasion I have again to acknowledge the benefit 
derived from the aid of my friend Mr Macgillivray, whose 
general knowledge of ornithology, and perfect candour, have 
rendered his advice peculiarly valuable. 
J. J. AUDUBON. 
Edinburgh, 16*^ July 1839 . 
