PREFACE.

WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS can fairly be considered but as another step towards that assimilation between the formalities of the mere technical natural history, and the diversified graces and uses of general literature, for which the author, in his proper character of Hunter-Naturalist, has labored for so many years.

Little more need therefore be said concerning the method of this volume, than that all method, such as is of a purely technical character, has been purposely avoided in the text.

The Hunter-Naturalist claims a method of his own, and whether it be for better or for worse, he has chosen to impress the seal and stamp thereof upon this series. Whether in his bear-skin cap and rough-furred hunting-cloak, he lead the way, rifle in hand, to fastnesses, and exhibit to you the rude and bloody exigencies of the strife of man with the savage occupants of a primeval wilderness— -or with such ungainly appliances thrown aside, and heart attuned to harmonies, he discourses to you Nature's gayest, gentlest themes, while loitering in her sunshine, he still claims to be real in his own individuality-the Hunter-Naturalist and nothing more!

The living man dealing with living nature is not likely to treat of her as he would of a Pre-Adamite Golgotha, and attempt to make such music out of her as the rattling of dry bones! The Hunter-Naturalist must therefore be excused if he prefer to convey something of the

songs of free-winged birds, rather than the sounds of such dreary castanets! If in his mellow gayety he should presume to transcend all limits of "rule and precedent," let the old leather-winged Chiroptera of dusky cabinets blink their round eyes and stare away-who cares?—not the Hunter-Naturalist-for sure-since he is happy in his singing-hopeful that others may be made happy too!

If in this dreary year, when earth is filled with wars and rumors of wars, and the air with portents and with pestilence, if the HunterNaturalist shall have won a single stricken heart and hopeless soul back to more cheerful views of life, it will be ample compensation for him to reflect that the dull Demon of Despair had been conqueredas the old Prussian general, when beaten out of Italy, complained, "contrary to all military precedent!"

But let the book tell its own story. This is certainly what I have left the five elegant plates, by Alfred J. Miller, of Baltimore, to do for themselves. It is sufficient for me to state, that the four in which Indians appear, are scenes in a camp of Delawares. They are so full of a character in keeping with the prominent topics of the present volume, as to render any text explanation of them useless at present. This is of the less importance now, as I propose to furnish among the Wild Scenes of a future and independent volume of this series, a full history of this noblest of the remaining Indian tribes of the continent.

In the fifteen plates of birds and flowers, by my wife, she has simply endeavored to illustrate her own views of " Woman's Rights" in the earnest effort to achieve something individually in the two departments of art, which seem most congenial and proper to feminine ambition, namely, bird and flower painting, with their cognate associations of the ornate, the graceful and the beautiful!

For the execution of my plates, in so short a time as has been allowed, I must express my gratitude to the Brothers Rosenthall, Philadelphia. The younger brother, M. Rosenthall, has distinguished himself by his zeal and skill as a young artist, under the accom

plished supervision of M. Martin Thurwanger, one of the brothers of that name, distinguished as cromo lithographers in Paris. Young Rosenthall has achieved an honorable place for himself in this new

art.

My wife is also much indebted to Mr. Galbraith, Taxidermist, of Camden, N. J., for obliging and skilful assistance in his department; also to Mr. Krider, of Philadelphia, author of a pleasant and useful little volume, called "Sporting Anecdotes," for similar obligations.

To our kind and ever to be remembered friend, George C. Ware, Esq., of Salem, N. J., we are chiefly indebted, not alone for genial and valued companionship, endeared by his goodness of heart and wonderful genius in music, but also for the liberality with which he afforded us constant access to, and the free use of his charming aviary of living song-birds. This curious collection, frequently numbering over sixty individuals at a time, was of great assistance to my wife.

For the benefit of those who may desire to see the scientific names of all the Birds and other natural objects mentioned in this volume, I have prepared carefully a Technical Index, which is presented at the end of the work.