BlOGRAJ’IIIES—ILLL'STRATIUNS. 39

In preparing these biographical sketches I have aimed to secure the best material possible. using my own notes only when l felt they were based on adequate observations. Not, only have. 1 Carefully ex- amined the literature relating to the habits of our birds. selecting what seemed to be the most trustworthy accounts of their appearance in life. but through the generous co-operation of fellow—students of living birds I am able to present character sketches of some of our birds, written by observers who are everywhere known for their sym- pathy with birds out-of—doors. Thus 1 have to thank Mrs. Miller, Miss Merriam, Mr. Bieknell, Mr. Brewster, Dr. Dwight, Mr. Thomp- son, and )Ir. Torrey for pen pictures of birds with which they are especially familiar, each sketch being signed by its author.

111ustralt‘on.\'.—The colored frontispieee is by Mr. Ernest E. Thomp- son. whom I have to thank for assistance in preparing the color chart and Key to Families. The numerous pen—and-ink drawings, which add so largely to the value of the work, were made by Mr. Tappan Aduey from specimens in the American Museum of Natural History. Some of the full-page half-tone plates are from photographs of groups in the American Museum of Natural History; the larger number, how- e\'er, were especially designed for this work, with the assistance of Mr. J. Rowley, Jr. .

The, Color (‘hm'L—It must not. be supposed tor a moment that the colors on the Plate II. represent the colors of all the birds of eastern North America. It does not do so any more than an artist‘s palette shows all the colors of his picture—in fact, I have called this plate my mental palette. and have frequently used two and even three terms to describe a given shade or tint.

It should be clearly understood, therefore, that when grayish brown, for example, is mentioned. it does not follow that the feathers to which the term is applied are of exactly the same color as the plate, but that trtey are nearer to this color than to any other in the plate. Used even ii. this general way. the plate will prove a far more definite basis for (inscription than if every one were left to form his own idea of the e>lors named.