; i l
' «Di;;'/'!,
J
P B : i
V ]{ E F A C E.
Ix pliooxiiiR a family of binls fur a scuond Monogra|>b, I was imliici-d to make a selection of the Tetraoiiiii®, not only on
account of tlicir varied forms and interesting liabits, but also for the iniiiortaiit part tlicy bear toward man’s comfort aud hapiii-
1ICS.S, Althougli not brilliaiit in plumage of varied eolois, like tlic Jhttida', still few could witness the graceful forms, erect carriage,
aud gallant bearing of tlic lueinbers of this laiiiily, witiiout having tlicir admiration excited. The majority of the species are inhabidiiits
of N'ortli Aineric.a,- and many of them, through the eoiitiimed pcrseeiitions to which they arc subjected, and tho want of a
rigiil ciilbiccniciit of piojicr laws for their protection, arc rapidly disajipcariiig from our land, iu a comparatively short space of time
to hecome e.xiiiict: and this was au additional reason to write their history while they were still to be found, aud their habits
observed in ihcir native wilds.
motives, it was with no ordinary degree of interest that I cnteivd u|)oii my task, ami have now brought
DU, embracing within it all the species of tlic Tctraonina- known to Ornithologists a t the present time.
liilliieiiced by
the work to a c
•• What is writ, is w rit; would it were wortliier,”
In treating of .so dilliciilf a group as the Lagopida', or I’tavmigan. it wa« alisoluteli
elusions regarding the ideiitilicatioii of the species, th a t a large iimnber of specimeu« should bo olii
foi'tiiiiati' ill receiving the vast collections of the-H- birds made by Mr. Kcnnicott. diiriiig a protvactcii
well as, from various utliev sources, iiiiinerous e.\ani]iles from almost
almost every localitv where these bii'ds
ullugctlior )>rol)ably the largest and most complct,
it is with some degree of confidence th a t I liai
> collection ever brought
'c designateli what have
order to airivc a t just con-
ined ; and I was pavticnlarly
ojoiii'ii iu Arctic America, us
•ere known to exist; forming
together. Theretbrc, after much ¡iivcstigalioii aud study,
seemed to be good species: and although my fellow-
material iu my possc.s.sioii it was impossible for me to
this group: and inseverai instances record as synonyms
Ornitliologists may not agree with me in some of iiiy vicw.s. yet from tin
come to any other conclusions than those given in the various articles on
local Ibrms regarded by mnny as gooil species,
-Viid now- the pleasing duty devolves upon me, of acknowledging the a.ssistance I have reco
II the prosecution of tlii« work
isoniaii Iiistilulloa, Washington,
tVoin iiiy friends both in this eountry and in Europe: and fiisit to Prof. S. F. Baird, of tho
who placed a t my dis)>os.al all the material relating to this subject, gathered l.y the various collectors of tin
and who has a t all times given every aid in his power toward the successful coiii|>letioii of this Moiiograiili;
of I’hiladelpliia, I desire to cxpre.ss my obligations for advice reganiiiig the preparation of my |)lates, and as
periods cliecrfully rcudeied: to >[r. Ceo. X, I.awreiicc, who allowed me to appropriate for my use any spccim
above Institution,
Mr. .lolin Cassili,
taiicc a t different
I? of these birds
w-liieh his cabinet contained: to Mr. .T. I). Sargcant, of Philadelidiia, from whose lino examples of Canaee Caiiadoiisis my drawing was
iiiiide: to Mr. Alfred Xcwtou. who sent me a tine series of Ptannigau from Iceland, which were most useful iu m>- invostigatioiis.
To Dr. P. L. Sclater: Prof. Simdevall, of Stockholm; W. .1. Hays, Esq.: (ieo, A. Hoardiuaii, liu p : Moiis, Jules P. Verreniix: Bciij.
Lcadbeater, Esq.: .1. U. Bell, Es<|.: ,Iohii Krider, Esq., and others, I would hero express luy thanks for the aid given a t various
times. To John lloiild, Esq., who scut from Loudon many species of this family, together with his type of the Spitzbergcn
Ptaniiigaii, for my inspection. I am much indebted.
The plates furiiisbcd by Mcs-si-s, liowoii A Co., of Pliiladel|)liia, have been |>re|iarod with the usual care of that weli-knoivii
linn: so long celebrated for thoir skilful e.xocution in this dillioult and dclicalo branch of art.
To .Mr. C. F. Tholcy, 1 would here state my gratilicntioii a t the careful maimer iu which ho has lithographed my drawings.
Aud now, nothing remains save to cx|.ress the obligations I feel to those who have lioiiorod iiiy work with thoir support,
aud with much ¡latioiice have borne with its necessarily slow i.s,siic: whose a.ssistaiicc has encoiiragoii me ihroiighoiit my laboi-s,
and been tho ineaiis of eiml.liiig mo to bring llieiu to a sucecssful tenniiiatioii.