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The Genera of North American Birds, and a Synopsis 
of the Species found within the territory of the United 
States./; systematically' arranged in Orders and Families . 
By Charles L. Bonaparte. Read January 24, 1826. 
It was the author’s intention to ha rred the publica- 
tion of the present Synopsis, as announced in the preface to 
the continuation of Wilson’s Ornithology, until the appear- 
ance of the concluding volume of that work ; when it might, 
with the attention which time would enable him to bestow 
upon it, be made more worthy of meeting the public eye. It 
having been suggested, however, that even in its present state, 
its publication might facilitate the study of the branch of 
Natural History to which it relates; and moreover, thinkl ig 
that it might contribute to the perfection of the future edition, 
he begs leave to submit it for the consideration of the Lyceum. 
No species has been admitted to a place in the following 
Synopsis, that is not described in the standard work of Wil- 
son, and adopted in our observations on the Nomenclature of * 
his Ornithology ; or that has not been since discovered or 
ascertained by us to be actually an inhabitant of the United 
States. The latter will appear in our Natural History of 
the birds not given by that justly admired author. All other 
species stated to inhabit the United States, on whatever 
authority, we regard as apocryphal ; and we have no hesita- 
tion in declaring, that the discoverer of a bird not noticed 
here, will render an important service to science by publishing 
an account of it. 
The classification here adopted is that of a general system, 
the analysis of which we hope to publish shortly : although 
not entirely new, it in many respects deserves that title. 
The introduction of new appellations has indeed been avoided 
throughout, even when they would have been more appro- 
