Page [v]

               EDITOR'S PREFACE.
  IN preparing for the press this edition of Wilson's Ornitho-
logy, the editor has adhered to the original text, correcting
only some erroneous references, and a few verbal inaccuracies,
most of which were probably typographical errors.
  Wilson, in his introduction, mentions its being desirable,
that the birds should be arranged scientifically; and takes no-
tice of the causes, that rendered it, at that time, impracticable.
In fact, he was obliged to figure and describe his birds, nearly
in the order in which he obtained them; and was, therefore,
often compelled to place together those of the most dissimilar
habits and characters, and to separate the male and female of
the same species. In arranging them in proper order, the edi-
tor believes that he is merely accomplishing that, which the
author himself would have done, had he lived to prepare ano-
ther edition. That the value of the work is thus much enhan-
ced, is too evident to require comment.
  The classification of Latham having been adopted by Wilson,
has been followed by the editor, not because he considers it
the best, but for the reason just mentioned; and also because
there has not been any arrangement, hitherto proposed, entirely
free from objections. In the notes, however, the most import-
ant recent improvements in classification have been pointed
out; the errors committed by Wilson, in consequence of his not
being able to procure specimens for comparisons and books for
reference, have been corrected; and additional synonymes
given. For these improvements, the editor must acknowledge
himself to be, in great measure, indebted to the "4 Observations
on the Nomenclature of Wilson's Ornithology, by Charles L.
Bonaparte," in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences