ADVERTISEMENT. 
rTlHIS work is intended for a class of readers to whom 
^ mere scientific details would be unacceptable, if not 
unintelligible. Such, therefore, have been, as much as 
possible, avoided, and only alluded to as inducements 
to those who are interested in the subject, to make 
further progress in so attractive a department of 
Natural History. 
There are few individuals who have it not in their 
power, occasionally, to remark the instincts and habits 
of Birds ; and the many anecdotes collected from the 
Author’s own observation, the information of friends, 
or various respectable sources, will, it is hoped, excite 
others to register any facts within their reach, which 
may illustrate the mysterious economy whereby this 
beautiful portion of God’s creation is enabled, in so 
many instances, to surpass the highest efforts of man’s 
ingenuity, foresight, or philosophy. 
