IV PREFACE.
of fame which has followed the appearance of his writings, wherever
the English language is understood, or natural history admired.
A love for the same department of «natural science, and a desire
to complete the vast enterprise so far advanced by Wilson’s labours,
has induced us to undertake the present work, in order.to illustrate
what premature death prevented him from accomplishing, as well as
the discoveries subsequently, made in the feathered tribes of these
States. This undertaking was not precipitately- decided'on, nor until
the author had well ascertained that-no one else was willing to engage
in the work., He was aware mf-his inability to portray théf history
and habits of birds in a style equal- to -that of his distinguished predecessor,
principally because »he does not write in his own language;
and were his - abilities equal to his wishes, the -specife's recorded'dri
tile following pages are, for the most part; sd rare, and their'hisfdry
so little known, asjto preclude the possibility of making? the attempt.
To compensate-for such disadvantages, the author has throughout
endeavoured to give accurate descriptions, correct synonymes, and
a nomenclature iris conformable to nature’ as possible. He has been
equally solicitous -to procure therbest representations of his birds; in
which-herhqpes he has-succeeded, through the happy pen cil;^ Mr;
Titian- PMfcE,-who has invariably drawn from the recent-bird, and
not from the preserved specimen; this being the principal advantage
of works on Natural History, published in the country where thé animals
figured are found. The want of such opportunities of making
drawings, causes the chief defect- of various magnificent European
works, in which beauty and brilliancy of colouring- scarcely compensate
for the unnatural stiffness, faithfully copied from stuffed skins.
With the birds always before him; Mr. Lawson has transferred our
drawings cto the copper with his usual unrivalled accuracy ' and
ability. This artist, who acquired so much distinction by the engravings
in Wilson’s work, has become perfectly master of his art, and
so intimately acquainted with the various - parts of a bird, that he
may be justly styled the first ornithological engraver of our age.
PREFACE.
That important part of the workfthe colouring of the plates, has not
bëen? intrusted- to* inexperienced persons,« but has throughout been
Executed- from nature tfy Mr. A; Rider himself, whose talents as an
artist are well known, u^he- superioFtypdgtaphifeal1 executiout is to be
attributed totheext-raorclinary and vigilant attention of the publisher,
Mr’; S.- A.ïMw;rahhsf 4
To my Mends ‘Mif. Thomas Say, and Dr! JoHisfD'; Godman, my sincere
thanks arefufoL fop the qafd^tlif^have Bestowed in preventing
the11 introduction of foreign e&preSSions|mr phrases riot idiomatic, into
my^eoihpdsilHon-q --
ftr-Nfo eifertion will bë’ spared which'tends pfethte completion èf- a
perfect Ornithology, of thé litiitëdHStates',-5 arid journey will be undertaken
töïvards- the north, and perhaps another to the west, for thé
purpose* of obtaining- raëlffpfdStoh tno§$ f^ionsw
Wrdki^HforfdajwernsprmcfpÉll^vwaÖtiii^} and it is* éven
süpposëd thati SWerabofijthbset belongin^fcf-Ctibai and öthetf West
India Islands,- may occasionally report- to the' southern part of Florida*
alid tl^^bf^datitled wdJ.fmwTri'iï' outwork,,, a paintèr-naturalist was
selected, to visit, that« part offtfi^ulariïéwmch Wilson had been sd
desirous'! of! exploring. e®dnöi(|e^oriIddüdtr ha.fëAbeen made
than that of Milnl^^B|PÈALE,ttrhosè^zëal‘ïin theteaölëbf hatriral
history had previously induced him' to join those useful citizens, who,
under| |^ ('cpïrimand olF®a!f excellent officer Major Long, explored
the röéStèrn wilds as- far as tÉfe? Rocky Mountains. .Jifit*. Peale’s success
in that expedition, wheriev J^Pprocurëdl and drew1 oat the spot
almost all the new birds contained irt this; volume, will warrant us in
anticipating much? frorir hwctefti origin Florida.
We expect that -our" American Omriludbgy will extend to three
volumes, sqlthat with the nine previously published!-by Wilson, the
whole ^subject will be embraced- in twelve. Thé present vélrime contains
land birds onwj arid in evidence of Wilson’s industry we may
State, that we have been- unable' to adducë-a new Pennsylvanian bird.
Fori the contents of this volume, we ’have been obliged to resort to
birds inhabiting the western territories, the greater part of which