EDITOR’S PREFACE. 
In preparing for the press this edition of Wilson’s Ornitho- 
logy, the editor has adhered to the original text, correcting 
only some erroneous references, and a few verbal inaccuracies, 
most of which were probably typographical errors. 
Wilson, in his introduction, mentions its being desirable, 
that the birds should be arranged scientiftcally; and takes no- 
tice of the causes, that rendered it, at that time, impracticable. 
In fact, he was obliged to figure and describe his birds, nearly 
in the order in which he obtained them; and was, therefore, 
often compelled to place together those of the most dissimilar 
habits and characters, and to separate the male and female of 
the same species. In arranging them in proper order, the edi- 
tor believes that he is merely accomplishing that, which the 
author himself would have done, had he lived to prepare ano- 
ther edition. That the value of the work is thus much enhan- 
ced, is too evident to require comment 
The classification of Latham having been adopted by Wilson, 
has been followed by the editor, not because he considers it 
the best, but for the reason just mentioned; and also because 
there has not been any arrangement, hitherto proposed, entirely 
free from objections. In the notes, however, the most import- 
ant recent improvements in classification have been pointed 
out; the errors committed by Wilson, in consequence of his not 
being able to procure specimens for comparison, and books for 
reference, have been corrected; and additional synonymes 
given. For these improvements, the editor must acknowledge 
himself to be, in great measure, indebted to the “ Observations 
on the Nomenclature of Wilson’s Ornithology, by Charles L. 
Bonaparte,” in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences 
