X INTRODUCTION.
wife. But why should 1 say inore < This tine specimen of
human nature, eminent for every virtue, this kind and generous
friend, is BENJAMIN I'nii.ui'S; Ksip
Having been long anxious to introduce into America several
species of I ' . u r o p e a n birds, which I thought might thrive
with us, 1 purchased about an hundred individuals of that
delightful songster, the Sky Lark, fifty Starlings, and several
Jays and Wood Pigeons,, intending; to sot.'them loose in the
Western States.. Putting them in ample cages, accompanied
with n store of food for the voyage, 1 had them sent on board
in the London Docks; but on our reaching Portsmouth by
land, we heard that the weather had been very bad in the
Channel, and that our birds had suffered severely. The news,
to my vexation, proved true: many of the birds had diecJ::
and, although our passage to New York was pleasant as well
as; speedy, wr y few were landed, so. that my hopes were, entirely
disapppifflitepL
On the 1st of August li|3'6, we went on board the tine
American Backet Ship, tliiv Gladiator. eoumiande-d.byhT.u«.\ms
HIÍITTON. Ksq. ¡nid- proceeded on our voyage.- which; proved
agreeable. On arriving at. M w -York,'we;«t>ou reached -the
house of my good friend and brother-in-law NUCUOI.AS BERTHOPA,
Esq.. Leaving my-'Son thefe, .1 prom«! ed-almost immediately
to Boston, where, under the roof of my generous friend
Dr (¡«Mua-: € . SuArn.oK, lumjoyed Hfe.lbr a while.*::.\ly friend
Dr (¡i'.oiWK ¡'AHK.MAN was nhüí-mt:, and i missed -him much.
Here, through the kii®dkesss#b%i SmftïSCE,1 ¡ procured tw-o
subscribers, and formed acquaintance with THOMAÍ NI.ÍBBKVF.K.
Esq., from whom I have received nun valuable service* which
you will find mentioned in the própeB íplábesuísiPúeMiigiénito
OTftODifomtm xi
Salem I formed some: acq uaintances there, and procured several
subscribers; then returned to Boston, and, as fortune would
have, it, heard of the arrival of THOM AS NCTIAIX, Esq,, the
well-known zoologist, botanist, and mineralogist, who had
performed a journey over the Rock v Mountains to the Pacific
Ocean, accompanied by our mutual friend JOHN KIRK TOWNSKNIJ,
F.sq., M. D. Mr NI.TTAI,I. generously gave me of his ornithological
treasures all that was new, and inscribed in my
journal tlieobservationswJiich lie had maderespectiogthe habits
and distribution of all the new and rare species which were
unknown to me. All this information you will find in the different
articles to which iti refers, and- you will allow t hat while
it proves his zeal for the furtherance! of science, it manifests
the generosity of his noble nature. ¡'
Dr TowNKENK's-collection Was at Philadelphia; my anxiety
to examine his specimens was extreme; and I therefore, bidding
farewell to my Boston friends, hurried off to- New York,
where,¡in a week, I added eighteen names to my list of subscribers,
in obtaining which I was, materially aided by my
l>rother-hi-la,w. Once more my son and I reached Philadelphia,
where at once., we. placed ourselves under the roof of' my
ever staunch and; true friend RICHARD HAKLAN, Esq., M, Dt,
with:whom We remained several weeks. Soon after my arrival;
1 called on.tiriy Immied friend L)r CHAHI.KS PK KICKING,
formed the desired acquaintance of an enthusiastic young ornithologist,,
JAMES TIAJBIIEACI, Esq:, and met my firm friend EDWARD
HARRIS; Esq. Having obtained access to the collection
sent by Dr TOWXSKND, 1 turned over;and over the new and rare
speciest but he!Was absent at Ir'ort; Yaticouver, on the shores
of the; Columbia River ? ¡THOMAS NUTTAU. had not yet come