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Preface.
|FOR many years we have been of opinion that a work on NESTS and EGGS,
in life-like colors, would be a valuable acquisition to ornithological
science, and meet a want that has long been felt to exist. After vainly
hoping that some more competent person than the writer would see the
necessity therefor, and take a step in the right direction, we were
beginning to despair of any such enterprise being undertaken, when, to
our surprise, two publications, partially of this character, loomed up
in the literary horizon, one hailing from Ohio, and the other from New
England; the former, a local publication, seemed of such high pecuniary
value as to be beyond the public reach; while the latter, fully up to it
in merit of learning, but illustrating merely the eggs, was destined to
failure from the first, and, after running a brief career, has at last
ceased to exist. Under these circumstances we embarked in the project,
in the confident expectation that our ornithological friends and others
would give us encouraging support.
The utter impracticability and, we may say, impossibility of any scheme
looking to the delineations of all the nests built by the many hundred
birds belonging to our country, in the small space of a single volume,
was obvious at the outset. All that we could promise our conscience were
the figures of representative forms, and this we have kept in view, and
endeavored to fulfil. To future series, if there should be a demand, we
will leave the continuation of the subject, when, not being necessarily
restricted to family types, we shall labor to invest the Plates with
greater charms and attractiveness in the shape of rarer and more
magnificent birds.
Upon cursory examination it will readily be perceived that the work
has considerably deviated from its original aim. This change occurred
shortly after the issuance of the third number, and in obedience to the
popular demand, which insisted that the birds should be given with the
nests, thereby entailing increased expense, but adding, it cannot be
denied, largely to the beauty, utility and value of the publication.
This innovation, dictated by good sense and sound knowledge,
necessitated further expenditures of capital. In order that an air of
uniformity should pervade the entire work, it was very essential that
extra plates of birds should be furnished for the early drawings of
nests. Determined that the work should be first class in every respect,
and well worthy of patronage, the publisher spared not the expense, and
once more exceeded the promises made to his patrons.
Especial pains have been taken with the text. The aim of the author has
been to present a short, plain and detailed account of the habits of
each species described, from the time of its arrival, if a migrant,
until its retirement to the South in the fall. In the case of resident
birds, he has been particular to give their winter history in addition
to that of the breeding season, in the same orderly and continuous
manner as is apparent in his descriptions of their more migratory
brethren. The presentation of the events in regular sequence, if great
care be not taken, is sure to lead to monotony. This he has tried to
avoid, but how well he has succeeded, he defers to the judgment of his
readers.
Throughout the work, considerable prominence has been given to those
interesting and curious phases of bird-life which are present during the
breeding-period, and which have been the principal study of the author
for many years. Extraneous matter has been sedulously omitted, and
nothing permitted to appear about which there could be serious doubts of
accuracy. While he has drawn largely and, in very many instances,
almost entirely from his own observations, recorded and unrecorded, for
material, he has not hesitated to consult the writings of others, or to
avail himself of the statements of reliable correspondents, where
his own knowledge has been incomplete or defective. Wilson, Audubon,
Nuttall, Brewer, although dead, have spoken to him through their
valuable works, and yielded up their varied observations for occasional
selections. Among living authors, to Baird, Coues, Ridgway, Allen,
Samuels, Cory and Minot, and others less eminent, he has had access
through their writings, and he now takes this opportunity of returning
to them his grateful acknowledgments.
In the arrangement of the details of the Plates, the artist has been
subject to the suggestions and dictations of the author, the constant
aim of the latter being to secure accuracy in this respect, as well as
the greatest variety possible. The typography, for clearness, sharpness,
regularity and finish, has rarely been surpassed by that of any other
work. Much praise is due the enterprising publisher for his liberality
and public-spiritedness.
With these few preliminary remarks, we send this beautiful book out
into the world, trusting that it may meet with a cordial reception
everywhere. If it be the means of acquainting man with the lovable
manners and interesting domestic relations of a few, though not all, of
our feathered friends, and of restraining our youth from nest-destroying
propensities by offering them pictures of the homes of birds for study
and contemplation, and thus abate the evil; or if it add but one new
fact to the author's favorite science of ornithology, or benefit it
in any way whatever, he will rest satisfied, and feel that he has not
labored in vain.
Thomas G. Gentry.
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.,
May, 1882.
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