iv 
ADFMRTISEMmr. 
constantly at hand to he 'ivef erred to^ andi,campared withj the birds 
themselves^ which were fromAime io time presented to the ..editors of 
both volumes i and were often, of great service^ hy. enabling them to as- 
certain the names^ andtto identify each species^ in an examination of 
the subjeBs before.themi when compared with the figures and doubtful 
nomenclature of other ornithologists. 
Notwithstanding these helps ^ the figures of several birds are 
still wanting / but^ however the editor regrets the deficiency ^ he is 
well aware that it is to be attributed to the difficulties the sportsman 
meets with in coming at many of the shy inhabitants of the ocean^ and 
of the pathless misty marsh. The' time ^spent in endeavouring to pro- 
cure these desiderata^ and other unforeseen obstacles, have checked the 
progress of this work, and must apologise for theAelay of its appear- 
ance to so lengthened a period after the History of the LandMirds, Im- 
mediately after the publication of that volume, a separation of interests 
took place between the editors, andi the compilation and completion, of 
the. present work devolved upon one alone. ^ So those who have pa- 
tronised the History of ^adrupeds, and British Land Birds, this 
apology is due : and of the public, do whose dribunal his work is now 
submitted, the editor begs .it may be remembered, that. fits best endea- 
vours have been exerted in thisicontinuation of the effort to render a 
delightful portion of Natural History more interesting and more ge- 
nerally known t and if they, in any degree, accomplish this objeht, his 
labours will not have been .bestowed in tp.ain. 
THOMAS ^BEWICK. 
Nev/castle upon Tyne,! 
July 3, 1804. J 
■* To the Ren). Hr Cotes ^ n/fcar of Bedlington, the editor aikno’wledges.his obliga- 
iiens for his. literary corretiions. 
