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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cone's Key, NA.Birds. \M m V (^3: Y^l i^ K. 1 c^i '4 S [ L R.W.Shuf-eldt.pinx ANATOMY OF PIGEON. Ackermann&Co. Lith* Boston. 1 ■.^'"MY»i,«»*.V.«*r>»w»"!i'i, '■!■•. .1' s •:TH /W^ERTCAN Hli^^^ .. roNClsm Ar< T^VRRv SPKCUfS OF LIVIN^ eiHJi AT PRESKNT ^ i u.i 1 1. f. ^fffi'iti'E^Jtlli'ir:. Batf, an\J Enttrfls Btlutittcu: I'Hi .«« LNCORrORMEO A^i Ol-'f'V GENERAL ; .0 R Nil HOLOGY : CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS; ;^■v .■v rnr. t,tvi ctv A M.\NL.-.i- '■•■ FIELD ORMITHOLOGY: . :,1 ARING. ANi> PRESEKVING BIRDS. t T f !.■ 1 r , V ( Ai( MV OF !><:i>i.-i • I ■ \ ■7 A.: -^^^ A^r" 1) BOSTON: F. stes and LAURIAT J 884. . Liths Boston r-n 5.. : Vf-, <)MV L KEY TO North American Birds. CONTAINING A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF EVERY SPECIES OF LIVING AND FOSSIL BIRD AT PRESENT KNOWN FROM THE CONTINENT NORTH OF THE MEXICAN AND UNITED STATES BOUNDARY, INCLUSIVE OF GREENLAND. S(conl) lEDitton, l^cbiscli to Datt, anH Snttrelg Stttorttttn: WITH WHICH ARE IN'CORPORATED GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY: AN OUTLINE OF THE STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION' OF BIRDS; AND FIELD ORNITHOLOGY: A MANUAL OF COLLECTING, PREPARING, AND PRESERVING BIRDS. By ELLIOTT COUES, M.A., M.D., Ph.D., MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ETC., ETC. PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. BOSTON: ESTES AND LAURIAT. 1884. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by F. W. Putnam and Elliott Coues, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by F. W. Putnam and Elliott Coues, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. Copyright, 1882, By Estes and Lauriat. Copyright, 1884, Bv Estes and Lauriat. University Press: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. '^o SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD, Nestor of American Ornithologists, €:i)ts; SBotk, BEARING TO OTHERS THE TORCH RECEIVED FROM HIM IN EARLIER DAYS, £s iDe0uateti» TlTL Ded CoN' Hisi M §3 §4 §5 §1C §2. 5 3. CONTENTS. PAGE Title ' Dedication "' Contents ^ Historical Peefacb ^i PART I. FIELD ORNITHOLOGY. § 1. Implements for collecting, and their use 1 § 2. Dogs 9 § 3. Various suggestions and directions for field-work 9 \ 4. Hygiene of coUectorship 19 § 5. Registration and labelling 21 § 0. Instruments, materials, and fixtures for preparing birdskius 25 § 7. How to make a birdskin 2S \ 8. Miscellaneous particulars 13 § 9. Collection of nests and eggs 50 §10. Care of a collection 51 PART II. § 2. S3. GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY. Definition of birds 59 Principles and practice of classification 65 Definitions and descriptions of the exterior parts of birds 82 a. Of the feathers, or plumage 82 4. The topography of birds 91 1. Regions of the body 91 2. Of the members ; their parts and organs 100 i. The bill 100 ii. The wings 106 iii. The tail Ill iv. The feet ... 118 Vi CONTEXTS. PAOF. § 4. All introduction to the Anatomy of birds 133 tj Ustcoioffv : tlio osseous .s_vsti'iii, or ftkciftou 134 1. Tile spinal eoliiimi l''» 2. Tiic thorax: riii.s and slcruuiii 142 3. Tiic pectoral arcli 145 4. Tlie pelvic arch 1*7 5. The skull 11» 6. Keurolog.v: the nervous system; organs of special senses 174 c. Jlyology: the iiiusculnr system 1W2 tl. Aiifreiolofry: Ihc vascular or circulatory systems 195 e. ruciimatoldgy : the respiratory system 19!) / Splanchiioliifty : the digestive system 209 ff. Oology ; the urogenital system 215 § a. Directions for using the arlilicial keys 227 Aktificial Kty to the Ordehs and SrnonnEits 230 Artificial Key to the Families 231 Tabular View of tue Groups uiguek than Genera 234 PART III. SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. I. Onk-r PASSERES : Inst'ssores, or Perchers Proper 238 1. Suborder I'ASSERES ACROMYODI, or OSCINES: Singing Birds .... 240 /. Family Tukdid^ : Thrushes, etc 240 1. Subfamily 7V/rrf(«i*.- Typical Thrushes 243 2. Subfamily il7iw(W; Mocking Thrushes 248 3. Subfamily C'iiicliiiif: Dipjicrs 254 4. SnhhmiU Siuiroliii/e ; Stone-chats and Blue-birds 250 5. Snhhmnly Jif'ffuliiue: Kinglets and Wood-wrens 259 (1. Snhlmnily Poliv/itiliiife: Gnat-catchers 260 3. Family CiiAM^iDiE : Wren-tits 2C2 S. Family Pauih.e : Titmice, or Chickadees 203 7. Subfamily Pffw/zP; True Titmice 263 4 Family Sittid.e : Nuthatches 209 5. Family Certiiiid.s : Crecjiers 272 8. Subfamily C(»r///«W; Typical Creepers 272 G. Family Troglodytid.e : AVrcns 273 9. Subfamily O/wy^pyoz-^/wrAiW/' ; Fan-tailed Wrens 274 10. S\ih(ei\m\y Trofflodyliiiie ; True Wrens ., 277 7. Family Alavdii)^ : Larks 280 11. Subfamily CV//an concordance or index ; and alto- gether it is not easy to ovcrostiuiate the significance of the Catesbian period, duo to this one work ; for no other book requires or indeed deserves to be mentioned in the same connection, tliough a few contributions, of somewhat " arcliaic " character, were made by various writers. (I748-17i, u) The Edwardmm Perind. — 'I'liis bridges the interval between Catesby and the estab- lislinient of tiie binomial nomenclature, and finishes the Pre-Linna'an epoch. No groat name of exclusive pertinence to \orth American ornithology appears in this decade. But the great naturalist whose name is inseparably associated with tliat of Catesby had begun in 1741 the "Natural History of Uncommon Birds," which he completed in four parts or volumes, in 17.51, and in which the North American element is conspicuous. This work contains two hundred and ten colored plates, with accom[)anyiug text, forming a treatise which easily mnks among the half-dozen greatest M'orks of the kind of the Pre- Linna!an epoch, and passed through several editions in different languages. Its impress upon American ornithology of the tim- is secontl only to that made by Catesby's, of which it was the natural sequence, if nut consequence It bore similarly upon birds soon to be described in binomial terms, and was shortly followed by the not less famous "Gleanings of Natural History," 1758-04, a work of precisely the same character, and in fact a continuation of the former. PMwards also made some of our birds the subject of special papers before the riiilosopliical Society, as those of 1755 and 1758 upon the Rufled Grouse and the Phalarope. It may be noted hero that one of the few special papers upon any American bird which Linna}us published appeared in this period, he having in 1750 first described the Louisiana Nonpareil {Passerina ciris). This period also saw the publication of part of the original Swedish edition of Peter Kalm's "Travels," 1753-61, which went through numerous editions in diff'erent languages. Kalm was a correspondent of Linna;us ; the genus of plants, Kalmla, commemorates his name ; his work contains accounts of many of our birds, some of them the bases of Linntean species ; and he also published, in 1759, a special paper upon the Wild Pigeon. As in the Catesbian period, various lesser contributions were made, but none requiring comment. Thus Lawson, as representing the continuation of a preceding epoch, and the associated names of Catesby and Edwards in the present one, have carried us past the middle of the last centurj'. HISTOmCAL PREFACE. XV id is even spectively 754, to a n " Selig- of which ., contain- it consists birds are cognizable d figured ; the work and alto- duo to this the same •:& made by d the estab- No great bis discade. ^'atesby had eted in four 30iispicuou8. ext, forming [ of the Pre- Its impress [Jatesby's, of n birds soon less famous icter, and in le subject of i8 upon the jecial papers lie having in also saw the !," 1753-61, )rrespondent Di'k contains and he also jbian period, lus Lawson, id names of I of the last The Post-Linn-ean Epoch: 1758-1800. (1758-1760.) The Linuceaii Period. — An interregnum here, during which not a notable work or worker appears in North American ornith(ilogy itself. But events elsewhere occurred, hlie reflex action of wliich upon our theme is simply incalculable, fully requiring the recognition of this period. The dates, 1 758-1 7CG, are respectively those of the appear- ance of the tenth and of the twelth edition of the " Systema Xutune " of Linntcus. In the former the illustrious Swede first formally and consistently applied his system of nomenclature to all birds known to him; the latter is his completed system, as it finally left his hands; and from tlicu to now, zoologists and especially ornithologists have dis- puted whether 1758 or 17GG should be taken as the starting-point of zoological nomen- clature. In ornithology, the matter is still at issue between the American and the British schools. However this may result, the fact remains that during this "LinncDan period," 1758 to 1766, we have tlie origin of all the tenable specific names of those of our birds whicli were known to LiniiiKUS ; the gathering up and methodical digestion and systematic arrangement of all tliat had gone before. Let this scant decade stand, — mute in America, but eloquent in Sweden, and since applauded to the echo of the world. Nor is this all. The year 1760 saw the famous " Ornithologia " of Mathurin Jaccjues Brisson (born April 20, 1725 — dieil Juno 23, 1806), in six portly quartos with 261 fohled plates, and elaborate descriptions in Latin and French of hundreds of birds, a fair pro- portion of which are North American. Many aro described for the fii-st time, though unfortunately not in the binomial nomenclature. The work holds permanent place ; and most of the original descriptions of Brisson's are among the surest bases of Linna;au species. (1700-1785.) The Forsterian Period. — Nearly twenty years have now elapsed with so little in- cident that two brochures determine the complexion of this period. John Reinhold Forster was a learned and able man, whose connection with North American ornithology is interesting. In 1771 he published a tract, now very scarce and of no consequence whatever, entitled "A Catalogue of the Animals of North America." But it was the first attempt to do anytliing of the sort, — in short, the first thing of its kind. It gives .302 birds, neither described nor even named scientifically. But that was a large num- ber of North American birds to even mention in those days, — more than Wilson gave in 1814. Forster followed up this exploit in 1772 with an interesting and valuable account of 58 birds from Hudson's Bay, occupying some fifty pages of the "Philosophical Transactions." Several of these birds were new to science, and were formally named, — such as our White- throated Sparrow, Black-poll Warbler, Hudsonian Titmouse, and Eskimo Curlew. Aside from its intrinsic merit, this paper is notable as the first formal treatise exclusively devoted to a collection of North American birds sent abroad. The period is otherwise marked by tiie publication in 1780 of Fabricius' " Fauna Groenlandica," in which some 50 birds of Greenland receive attention ; and especially by the appearance of a groat statesman and one of the Presidents of the United States in the role of orni- thologist, Thomas Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia" having been first pri- mi HISTORICAL PREFACE m vately printed in Paris in 1782, though the authorized publication was not till 1787. It coutaina a Hst of 77 birds of Virginia, fortified witli I'eferences to Catesby, Linnmus, and Brisson, as tiie autlior's authorities. Tliere were many editions, one dating 1853. The long publication in France of one of the monumental works on general orni- thology coincides very nearly witli this period 1 refer of course to Bulibn and hia collaborators. The " Histoire Naturelic des Oiseaux," by Butfon and Montbeillard, dates in its original edition 1770-1783, being in nine quarto volumes with 264 plain plates. It forms a part of tiie gmnd set of volumes dating 1749-1804 in their original editions. With the nine bird-volumes are associated the magnificent series of colored plates known as the "Planches Enluminces," published in 42 fascicles from 1765 to 1781. The plates are 1008 in number, of which 973 represent birds. (1785-1791.) The Pennantian Period. — A great landmark — one of the most conspicuous of the last century — was set up with the appearance in 1 785 of the second volume of Tliomas Pennant's "Arctic Zoology." The whole work, in tliree quarto volumes with many plates, 1784-1787, was "designed as a sketch of the Zoology of North America." In this year, also, John Latham completed the third volume (or sixth part) of his "General Synopsis of Birds." These two great works have nnich in comm.on, in so far as a more restricted treatise can be compared with a more comprehensive one ; and in the history of our subject the names of Latham and Pennant are linked as closely as those of Catesby and Edwards. The parallel may bo drawn still further ; for neither Pennant nor Latham (up to the date in mention) used binomial names ; their species had consequently no standing; but they furnished to Gmelin in 1788 the same bases of formally-named .species of the thirteenth edition of the " Systema Natune," that Catesby and Edwards had afforded Linnii3us in 1758 and 1766. Pennant treated up- wards of 500 nniuiiial species of North American Birds. The events at large of this brief but important period were the progress of Latham's Supplement to his Synopsis, the first volume of which appeared in 1787, though the second was not completed till 1801 ;. the appearance in 1790 of Latham's " Index Ornithologicus," in which his birds receive Latin names in due form ; and the publication in 1 788 of the thirteenth edition of the "Systema Naturcc," as just said. We are so accustomed to see " Linn." and " Gm." after the names of our longest- known birds that we almost unconsciously acquire the notion that Linnreus and Gmelin were great discoverers or describers of birds in those days. But the men who made North American ornithology what it was during the last century were Catesby, Eilwards, Forster, Pennant, Latham, and Bartram. For " the illustrious Swede " was in (his case little more than a methodical cataloguer, or systematic indexer ; while his editor, Gmelin, was merely an industrious, indiscriminate compiler and transcriber. Neither of these men ducovered anything to speak of in this connection. (1701-1800.) The Bartramian Period. — William Bartram's figure in the events we are sketching is a notable one, — rather more on account of his bearing upon Wilson's subsequent ca- wep than of his own actual achievements. Wilson is often called the " father of Ameri- HISTORICAL PREFACE. XVU till 1787. Linnoius, 1853. aeral orni- II and his larcl, dates ain plates, d editions, tes known 781. The nous of the of Thomas with many America." art) of his >n, in so far uc ; and in .s closely as for neither lieir species same bases .tune," that treated up- Df this brief sis, the lirst till 1801 ; lirds receive ition of tlie )ur longest- md Gmelin who made ■e Catesby, de " was in ! his editor, Neither of ) sketching^ lequent ca- • of Ameri- can ornithology ; " if this designation be apt, then Bartram may be styled its godfather. Few are fully aware how mucii Wilson owed to Bartram, his "guide, philosopher, and friend," who published in 1 79 1 his " Travels through North and South Carolina," con- taining much ornithological matter that was novel and valuable, including a formal catalogue of the birds of the Eastern United States, in which many species are named as new. I have always contended that those of his names which are identifiable are available, though Bartram frequently lapsed from strict binomial propriety ; and the question furnishes a bone of contention to this day. Many birds which Wilson first fully described and figured were really named by Bartram, and several of the latter's designations were simply adopted by Wilson, who, in relation to Bartram, is as the broader and clearer stream to its principal tributary affluent. The notable " Travels," freighted with its unpretending yet almost portentous bird-matter, went through several editions and at least two translations ; and I consider it the starting-point of a distinctively American school of ornithology. We have seen, in several earlier periods, that men's names appear in pairs, if not also as mates. Thus, Catesby and Edwards ; Linmeus and Gmelin ; Pennant and Latham ; and, perhaps, Buffon and Brisson. The Bartramian alter ego is not Wilson, but Barton, whose "Fragments of the Natural History of Pennsylvania," 1799, closed the period which Bartram had opened, and with it the century also. Benjamin Smith Barton's tract, a folio now very scarce, is doubly a " fragment," being at once a work never finished, and very imperfect as far as it went ; but it is one of the most notable special treatises of the last century, and I think the first book published in this country that is entirely devoted to ornithology. But its author's laurels must rest mainly upon this count, for its influence or impression upon the course of events is scarcely to be rec- ognized, — is incomparably less than tliat made by Bartftim's " Travels," and by his raentorship of Wilson. By the side of Bartmra and Barton stand several lesser figures in the picture of this period. Jeremy Belknap treated the birds of New Hampshire in his " History " of that state (1792). Samuel Williams did like service for those of Vermont in his "History" (1794). Samuel Hearne, a pioneer ornithologist in the northerly parts of America, fore- shadowed, as it were, the much later " Fauna Boreali-Americaua " in the narrative of his journey from Hudson's Bay to the Northern Ocean — a stout quarto published in 1795. Here a chapter of fifty pages is devoted to about as many species of birds ; and Hearue's observations have a value which " time, the destroyer," has not yet wholly efl'aced. The Wilsonian Epoch: 1800-1824. (1800-1808.) The Vieillotian Period. — As we round the turn of the century a great work occupies the opening years, before the appearance of Wilson, — a work by a foreigner, a French- man, almost unknown to or ignored by his contemporaries in America, although he was already the author of several illustrated works on ornithology when, in 1807, his " Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de I'Am^rique Septentrionale " was completed in two large folio volumes, containing more than a hundred engravings, with text relating to several hun- dred species of birds of North America and the West Indies ; many of them figured for I XVIU HISTORICAL PliEl'ACE. the first time, or entirely new to scioiico. This work, bearing much tho same relation to its times tiiat Catcsby's ami Edwards' rcspoctivuly diil to tiieirs, is said to have been published in twenty-two parts of six plates each, probably during several years ; but tho date of its inception I have never been able to ascertain. However this may be, Vieillot alone and completely tills a jieriod of eij^dit years, .luring wliich no other notable or even nientionable treatise njion Nortii American birds saw the light. Vieillot's ease is an exceptional one. As tho author of numerous splendidly illustinited works, all of which live; of a system of ornitiiology, most of the generic names contained in which are ingrained in the science ; of very extensive encyelopajdic work in which hundreds of species of birds receive new technical names: Vieillot has a fame which time rather brightens than obscures. Yet it is to be feared tliat the wm-ld was unkind during his lifetime. At Paris, lie stood in tlr shadow of t'uvier's great name; Temminck assailed him from Holland ; while, as to his work upon our birds, many years passed before it was appreciated or in any way adequately recognized. Thus, singularly, so great a work as the "Histoire Naturelle" — one absoluti-ly characteristic of a period — luid no appre- ciable effect upon tho course of events till long after the times that saw its birth, when Cassin, Baird, and others brought Vieillot into proper perspective. There is so little trace of Vieillot during the Wilsonian and Audubonian epochs, that his " Hirds of North America " may almost be said to have slept for half a century. But to-day, the solitary figure of the Vieillotian period stands out in bold relief. (180H-1S24.) The Wilsonian Period. — Tho " Paisley weaver ; " the "Scotch pedler;" the "melan- choly poet-naturalist ;" tho " father of American ornithology," — strange indeed are the guises of genius, yet strangei' its disguises in the epithets by which we attempt to label and pigeon-hole that thing which has no name but its own, no place but its own. Alex- ander Wilson had genius, and not much of anything else — very little learning, scarcely any money, not many friends, and a paltry share of " tho world's regard " while he lived. But genius brings a message which men must hear, and never tire of hearing ; it is the word that comes when the passion that conceives is wedded with the patience that achieves. Wilson was a poet by nature, a naturalist by force of circumstances, an Ameri- can ornithologist by mere accident, — that is, if anything can be accidental in the life of a man of genius. As a poet, he missed greatness by those limitations of passion which seem so sad and so unaccountable ; as the naturalist, he achieved it by the patience that knew no limitation till death interposed. As between the man and his works, the very touchstone of genius is there ; for the man was greater than all his works are. Genius may do that which satisfies all men, but never that which satisfies itself ; for its inspira- tion is infinite and divine, its accomplishment finite and human. Such is the penalty of its possession. Wilson made, of course, the epoch in which his work appeared, and I cannot restrict tho Wilsonian period otherwise than by giving to Vieillot liis own. The period of Wil- son's actual authorship was brief; it began in September, 1808, when the first volume of the " American Ornithology " appeared, and was oit short by death before the work was finished. Wilson, having been born July 6, 1766, and come to America in 1794, died August 23, 1813, when his seventh volume was finished; the eighth and ninth being HISTORICAL PREFACE. xix no relation have boeu rs ; but tlio be, Vieillot bio or even case is uii 1 of which which ure miulrtids of tiiuo ratlior luring his ick iissailod (1 boforo it reat a work ' no apj)ro- birth, when is so little (Is of Xorth tho solitary the " niclan- leed are the mpt to label iwn. Alox- ing, scarcely lilo he lived. !aring ; it is >atienco that 8, an Aiueri- n the life of ission which )atienco that ks, tho very ire. Genius r its inspira- the penalty nnot restrict sriod of Wil- 3t volume of ;ie work was 1794, died ninth being completed in 1814 by his friend and editor, tteorgo Ord. Hut from this time to 1824. when Bonaparte began to write, the rci^'uing work was still Wilson's, nothing iippcaiiiig during these years to alter tlie comploxiou of American ornithohigy apiireciably. \\ ii- sun's name overshadows nearly tlio wholo epoch, — not tiiat others wore not tlicn ^;ri'al, but that ho was so much greater. This author treated about 2f<0 species, giving failhl'ul descriptions of all, and colored illustrations of most of them. Tliere are numerous editions of his work, of which the i)rincipal are Urd's, 1828-"29, in three volumes ; Jameson's, 1831, in four; Jardine's, 18;}2, in three; and Brewer's, 1840, in one; all tpf those, excepting of course the lirst one, containing Bonaparte's "American Orni- thology " and other matter foreign to tho original " Wilson." In 1814, Just as " Wilson" was linished, appeared tho history of the memorable ex|)e(lition under Lewis and Clarke — an expedition which furnished some material to Wilson himself, as witness Lewis' Woodpecker, Clarke's Crow, and tho "Louisiana" Tanager; ami more to Ord, who con- tributed to tho second edition of "(lutlirie's ( leography " an article ujinn ornithology. Ord's prominence in this science, however, rests mainly upon his connection with Wilson's work, as already noted. Near the close of the AVilsonian period, 'J'homas Say ga\o ua important notices of Western birds, upon the basis of material acquired through Long's Expedition to the Kocky Jlountains, tho account of which ap]ieared in 1823. In this work, Say described sundry species of birds new to science ; but ho was rather an ento- mologist than an ornithologist, and his imprint upon our subject is scarcely to be found outside tho volume just named. A noted — some might say rather notorious — character appeared upon the scene during this period, in the person of C. S. Hatinosque, who seems to have been a genius, l)ut one so awry that it is difhcult to do aught else than mis- understand him, unless we confess that we scarcely understand him at all. In tho elegant vernacular of tho present day he would bo called a crank ; but I presume that term means that kind of genius which fails of interpretation ; for an unsuccessful genius is a crank, and a successful crank is a genius. For tho rest, the Wilsonian period was marked by great activity in Arctic exploration, in connection with tho ornithological results of which appear prominently the names of William R Leach and Edward Saldino. As illustrating the relation between Wilson and Bartram, which I have already pointedly mentioned, I may quote a few lines from Ord's "Life of Wilson."' ' " His RchooI-hftiiRO anil residence being but a short illstanco from Bartram's Botanic Garden, sltnateincKs from the contemplation of her simple beauties, than from any other source of gratifi- cation. But he bad hitherto been a mere novice ; he was now about to receive Instructions from one whom the experiences of a long life, spent in travel and rural retirement, bad rendered qunllfied to teach. Mr. Bartram soon perceived the bent of his frlcml's mind, and Its congeniality to his own; and timk every pains to encourage him in a study, which, while it oxpiinds the f icultles, and purities tho heart. Insensibly leads to the contemplation of the glorious Author of Nature himself. From his youth Wilson had been an observer of the manners of birds ; and since his arrival In America he liaf iiiDdcrii iiatiirulist.s — Cliaflcs l.iicii'ii Honiiiwrtc, uarly conceived and executed tilt) plan of continuing Wilson's work in similar style, if not in tlio samo spirit. Ho be^ian by pul)lialiing a series of " Ob.servations (in tlie Nomenclature of AVilson's Orni- tholofiy," in tim "Journal "of tliu riiilad.'lpbia Academy, 1824-25, repnbiislied in an octavo vdiiime, lH2(i. Tliis valuable critical commentary introduced a new feature, — decided clinnges in numenciatuve resulting from tiie sil'linj,' and rectification of synonymy. It is here that questions of synonymy — to-clay tiie bane and drudgery of the working naturalist — first accpiiro prominfinu in tiio iiistory of our special subject. Tiiere had been very little of it licforc, and Wilson himself, tho least "bookisli" of men, gave it scarcelv any attentinn. iinnaparte also in 182.') added several species to our fauna upon material collected in Florida by the now venerable Titian R. Peale, — whose hoiioreil name is thus tho first of those of men still living to appear in these annals. Bonaparte's "■\incrican Ornithologj'," uniform with "Wilson," and gonemlly incoqiorated tiierewith in snbse(|uent editions, as a continuation of Wilson's work, was originally published in four large (piarto volumes, running 182.'')-.1.3. Tho year 1827, in the midst of this work of Bonaparte's, was a notable one in several ]iarticu]ars. Bonaparte himself was very busy, producing a " Catalogue of tlie Binls of tlii' I'nited States," which, with a " .Supplement," raised tli(! number of species to 'MCt, ami of genera to 8.3 ; nearly a hundred species having been thus become known to us since Ord laid aside tho pen that Wilson had dropped. William Swainson tlie same year described a ntuiiber of new Mexican sjiecies and gf^nera, many of which como also into tho "North American" fauna. But tho most notable event of the year was tho appearance of the first five parts of Audubon's elephant folio plates. In 1828-29, as may also bo noted, Ord brought out his three-vol. Svo etlition of Wilson. In 1828, Bonaparte ret\irnod to tho charge of systematically cata- logiiing tho birds of North America, giving now ,382 species ; and about this time he also produced a comparative list of the birds of Rome and Philadelphia. His main work having been completed in 1833, as just said, Bonaparte continued his labora with a " Oeographical and fomparative List of the Birds of Europe and North America," published in London in 1838. This brochure gives 503 European and 471 American species. The celebrated zoologist wrote until 18.')7, but his connection with North American birds was only incidental after 1838. Tho period hei-e assigned him, 1824- 1831, may seem too short; but this was the opening of the Audubonian epoch — a period of brilliant inception, and one in which events that were soon to mature their splendid fruit came crowding fast ; so that room nmst bo made at once for others who were early in tho present epoch. (1831-1832.) The Swaintonio-Richanhoman Period. — The " Fauna Boreali-Americana," the ornithological volume of which was published in 1831, made an impression so indelible that a period, albeit a brief one, must be put here. The teclmic of this celebrated HISTORICAL PliEFAVK. XXI f tho most il executed spirit. Ho .sun's Orni- slied in tin feiiturn, — synonymy. lie working,' Tiiere liiul nen, gnvo it ■ fiiunu upon oso honored Honuparte's il therewith lublislied in of this worlt IS very busy, •upph'mcnt," idred species . Wilson had xican sprcies But tho most on's elephant hree-vol. 8vo latically cata- this timo ho 1. His main is labors with th America," t71 American with North I him, 1824- \\\ epoch — a mature their or others who ericana," the n so indelible lis celebrated treatise, moro valuable for its descriptions of now species and (»enera than for its methods of classification, was by William Swuin.son, as were tho elegant and accunitn colured plates; tho biographical matter, l)y Dr. (later Sir) John Richardson, increased our knowl- edge of tho life-history of tho northerly birds so largely, that it became a fountain of fatits to bo drawn upon by nearly every writer of prominence from that day to this. I'ju'h of the distinguished authors had previously appeared in connection with our birds, — Swainsim as above said; IJiehardson in 182."), in tho appendix to Captain Parry's "Journal." Tho influence of the work on the whole cannot be well overstated. Two events, besides the appearance of tho " Tauna," mark the year 1831. One of these is the i>ublication of tho first volume of Audubon's " Ornitludogical IJiography," being tho beginning of tho text belonging to his great folio plates. Tho other is tho coiuphttion of tho bird-volumes of I'cter Pallas' famous " Zoographia Posso-Asiatica," one of the most important contributions ever made to our subject, treating so largely as it does of tho birds of the region now called Alaska. The same year saw al&u the Jameson edition of " Wilson and Bonapurt(!." (1832- 1H34.) The Xuttallian Period. — Thomas Nuttall (born 1 780 — died 18.')9) was rather botanist than ornithologist ; but tho travels of this distinguished English-.Vnierican naturalist made him tho personal ac(piaintance of many of our birds, his love for which bore fruit in his " Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and ( "anada," of which the first viilumc! appeared in 1832, tho second in 1834. Tlui work is notable as the first "hand- book" of tho subject; it possesses an agreeable flavor, and I think was tho first formal treatise, excepting Wilson's, to pass to a second edition, ns it did in 1840. Nuttall's name is permanent in our annals ; and many years after he wrote, the honored title waa chosen to be borne by tho first distinctivelj' ornithological association of this (Miuntry, — tho " Nuttall Ornithological Club," founded at Cambridge in 1873, and still flourishing. (1834-1853.) The Auduhonian Period. — Meanwhile, tho incomparable work of Audubon — "the greatest monument erected by art to nature" — was steadily progressing. The splendid genius of the man, surmounting every difficulty and discouragement of the outhor, had found and claimed its own. That which was alwaj's great had come to be known and named as such, victorious in its impetuous yet long-enduring battle with that curse of the world, — I mean tho commonplace ; the commonplace, with which genius never yet effected a compromise, since genius is necessarily a perpetual menace to mediocrity. Audubon and his work were one ; he lived in his work, and in his work will live i». -iver. When did Audubon die. We may read, indeed, "on Thurs- day morning, January 27th, 1851, when a deep pallor overspread his countenance. . . . Then, though he did not speak, his eyes, which had been so long nearly quenched, rekindled with their former lustre and beauty ; his spirit seemed to be conscious that it was approaching the Spirit-land." And yet there are those who are wont to exclaim, " a soul I a soul ! what is that 1 " Happy indeed are they who are conscious of its existence in themselves, and who can see it iu others, every instant of time during their lives 1 xxu HISTORICAL PREFACE, ! i ,'- Audubon's first publication, perhaps, was in 1826, — an account of the Turkey- buzzard, in the " P^ilinburgh New riiilosophical Journal," and some other minor notices came from his pen. But his energies were already focused on his life-work, with that intense and perfect absorption of self whicli only genius knows. The first volume of the magnificent folio plates, an hundred in number, appeared in 1827-30, in five parts ; the second, in 1831-3-1, of tlie same number of plates; the third, in 1834-35, likewise of the same number of plates ; the whole series of 4 volumes, 87 parts, 435 plates and 10G5 figures of birds, being completed in June, 1839. Meanwhile, the text of the " Birds of America," entitled " Ornitliological Biography," was steadily progressing, the first of these royal octavo volumes appearing in 1831, the fifth and last in 1839. In this latter year also appeared the " (Synopsis of the Birds of North America," a single liandv volume serving as a sj'stematic index to the whole work. In 1840-44 appeared the standard octavo e