terrestrial in this respect. Many of them in fact are so large
that only a single figure could be given, and that not always in
so good an attitude as I could have wished. For this reason I
have sometimes been obliged to give the figure of the young in
a separate plate; and this I shall in a few cases continue to do,
in order to correct the errors of authors respecting certain species,
which I have proved to be merely nominal. Still the number
contained in the three volumes being six hundred and
seventy-four, there are more than two to each species.
The engraving and colouring of the plates of this volume
have generally been considered as much superior even to those
of the second. Indeed, some of my patrons, both in Europe
and America, have voluntarily expressed their conviction of the
superiority of these plates. This is the more gratifying to me,
that it proves the unremitted care and perseverance of Mr
HAVEL L and his assistants, of whom I mention with approbation
Messrs BLAKE and EDINGTON.
The Ornithology of the United States may be said to have
been commenced by ALEXANDER WILSON, whose premature
death prevented him from completing his labours. It is unnecessary
for me to say how well he performed the task which
he had imposed upon himself; for all naturalists, and many who
do not aspire to the name, acknowledge his great merits. But
although he succeeded in observing and obtaining a very great
number of our birds, he left for others many species which he
was unable to procure. These have been sought for with eagerness,
and not without success, by persons who have engaged in
the pursuit with equal ardour. The PRINCE OF MUSIGNANO,
full of enthusiasm, having his judgment matured by long observation,
and his mind stored with useful learning, collected in
valuable information, and many interesting specimens of birds
and eggs, for which I am indebted to the Rev. JOHN BACHMAN,
Dr RICHARD HARLAN, Dr GEORGE PARKMAN, EDWARD
HARRIS, Esq. and others.
The number of new species described in the present volume
is not great. Among them, however, you will find the largest
true Heron hitherto discovered in the United States. I have
corrected some errors committed by authors, and have added to
oui1 Fauna several species which, although described by European
writers, had not been observed in America. The habits
of many species previously unknown have also been given in
detail.
Having long ago observed, in works on the Birds of the
United States, the omission of the females and the different appearances
produced by the change of season in most water birds,
I have represented the male accompanied by his mate, and, in
as many instances as possible, the young also. The technical
descriptions have been given at greater length than in the former
volumes, with the view of preventing error even in comparing
dried skins with either the figures or the descriptions.
I have also given the average measurement of the eggs, which
I regret I had omitted to do in the other volumes ; an error
which I purpose to atone for by presenting you, in the last
number of my Illustrations, with figures of all those which I
have collected.
The figures in the third volume of my Illustrations amoimt
to one hundred and eighty-two, and are thus much fewer than
those in either of the preceding volumes. This, however,
was rendered necessary by the comparatively large size of the
originals, the aquatic species of Birds greatly exceeding the