PREFACE.
American Ornithology hap unifprmly.presented a highly interesting
subject -of>investigation to naturalists and liberally educated persons,
eyen 5fhen' the-‘means of gratifying general curiosity were-few and
difficult of = attainment. Wilson’s invaluable work removed the
obstacles!preventing access.to.thisattractive study, conferred on him
ad imperishable’ renown, improved5 the tasjfe and elevated the scientific
character of his fellow-:citizen’s, and rs*icpred< the approbation of
thp jitdicious’ andaenlighjeficddn ad cauntnes.
■ Placed where*:he Leonid derive]littlefor;no- aid from scientific books
.bp men, Wilson’s ardent and ’perspicacious mind triumphed over
AmetmsfaasfBes, and'enabledrhim to exhibit the truths he discovered
id that warm, lucid,. and captivating language, which never fails to
reach;the Jheart pf this» reader, bbcause it fiowed direct from his ownj
whilst his clearness of : arrangement, -accuracy of description, and
faithfulness of 'delineation, show, mpst advantageously, the soundness
his judgment and the excellence of his observation. We may
add, without »hesitatiqn, that siich a . work' as. he ’ has published in a
new country, is still a desideratum in any part of Europe.
It was the inspiration derived from that pure and perennial source,
the contemplation of .nature,1 which gave ^f&LSON the. power of illustrating
every; objiebtr of his #l§ear.ch,: and imparting to. the most
abstruse discussion&the^charm of vigorous origintdit^liUnfortunately
foarthe interests.’of science-, his -eagernessito augment his stock of
knowledge .by more incessant application, impaired his constitution
to, such a degree, that he. sunk^under the hand ./d e a th * before his
great work was completed, and before he could reap that rich harvest