I Cannot allow the present volume to meet the public eye, without offering a few remarks upon the design and execution of this work. The etchings do not pretend to any merit beyond that of fidelity of delineation, upon a scale hitherto unattempted, and to that spirit and character which will generally attend drawings made, as much as possible, from living specimens. With respect to the letter-press, I have not professed to give a complete history of British Birds, and have not, therefore, drawn together into one focus all that has been better said by other writers upon the subject; but have contented myself with referring, by occasional notes, to any anecdotes particularly interesting as to the species under consideration.