2 
INTRODUCTION. 
birds, from the shores of St. Lawrence to the mouths of the 
Mississippi, and from the Atlantic ocean to the interior of Lou- 
isiana: these will be engraved in a style superior to any thing 
of the kind hitherto published; and coloured from nature with 
the most scrupulous adherence to the true tints of the original. 
The bare account of scientific names, colour of bills, claws, 
feathers, &c. would form but a dry detail; neither, in a publi- 
cation of the present kind, where every species is faithfully 
figured and coloured, is a long and minute description of the 
form, and feathers, absolutely necessary. — This would, in the 
opinion of some, be like introducing a gentleman to company, 
with “ ladies and gentlemen, “ Mr. . He has on a blue 
coat — white pantaloons — hussar boots,” ^c. ^'C. while a single 
glance of the eye, over the person himself, told us all this be- 
fore the orator had time to open his mouth; so infinitely more 
rapidly do ideas reach us through the medium of the eye, than 
by that of the ear. But as time may prey on the best of colours, 
what is necessary in this respect will 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 spe- 
cies; to become, as it were, their faithful biographer, and to 
delineate their various peculiarities, in character, song, build- 
ing, economy, &c. as far as my own observations have extend- 
ed, or the kindness of others may furnish me with materials. 
The Ornithologt of the United States exhibits a rich dis- 
play of the most splendid colours, from the green, silky, gold- 
bespangled down of the minute humming bird, scarce three 
inches in extent, to the black coppery wings of the gloomy 
Condor, of sixteen feet, who sometimes visits our northern re- 
gions — 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 diver- 
sity in haliit, economy, form, disposition and faculties, so uni- 
