NOTE THOSE who may look into this book are warned that they will not find a complete treatise on Ornithology, any more than an attempt to include in it all the names under which Birds, even the commonest, are known. Taking as its foundation a series of articles contributed to the ninth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica,' I have tried, first, to modify them into something like continuity, so far as an alphabetical arrangement will admit; and, next, to supplement them by the intercalation of a much greater number, be they short or long, to serve the same end. Of these additions by far the most important are those furnished by my fellow-worker Dr. GADOW, which bring the anatomical portion to a level hitherto unattained, I believe, in any book that has appeared. For other contributions of not less value in their respective lines, I have to thank my old pupil Mr. LYDEKKER, my learned colleague Professor Roy, and my esteemed correspondent Dr. SHUFELDT, formerly of the United States' Army. Dr. Gadow's articles are distinguished by their title being printed in Italic type: those of the other contributors bear their author's name at the end. For my own part I have to say that, in the difficult task of choosing the subjects for additional articles, one of my main objects has been to supply information which I know, from Reclass. 12-30-30 TIEN. |