4 
INTRODUCTION. 
difficulties, which mathematical knowledge would 
prove to he proportionally increased at every step in 
his progress. How all these seeming impossibilities 
are accomplished, is perhaps the most interesting 
part of the following pages. 
But the study of Ornithology has other charms, 
in a great measure confined to itself, and recom- 
mending it to the attention of a large class of 
readers; namely, that of its being within the reach 
of all who take an interest in the proceedings of 
the natural world. Quadrupeds, generally speaking, 
are few in number, and so difficult of access, that 
in fact, beyond the limited families of our domestic 
menageries, few can have an opportunity of inves- 
tigating their habits. Out of eighty genera of four- 
footed animals, about fifteen only are to he met with 
in the British islands ; of these, many live so remote 
from man, that accident alone can gratify his curio- 
sity, and of that greater portion scattered over 
the earth, few, comparatively speaking, ever fall 
under the observation of the most inquiring tra- 
veller. One-half of the characteristic features of 
the lion and tiger tribe we collect from the analogous 
habits of one of a similar genus, namely, the cat, 
which harmlessly purrs by our fire-side : while the 
sheep and goat afford information respecting the 
numerous class of ruminating animals, which in- 
habit parched deserts, or the precipitous regions of 
rocks and mountains. But in the class of Birds the 
case is different : many, it is true, and perhaps some 
of the most singular as well as most beautiful, are 
seldom accessible ; but of those which meet us at 
every turn, which cheer our solitary walk with their 
