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IT has been frequently remarked that the productions of distant countries have received a much
larger share of attention than those objects by which we are more mmmediately surrounded ;
and it is certainly true, that while numerous and costly illustrations have made us acquainted
with the Ornithology of most other parts of the world, the Birds of Europe, in which we are,
or ought to be, most mterested, have not received that degree of attention which they naturally
demand. The present work has been undertaken to supply this deficiency, and I cannot but
feel highly gratified that a number of concurring circumstances have enabled me to carry my
intentions into effect with comparative facility, and I hope to the entire satisfaction of the whole
of the subscribers; this I am induced to believe is the case from the patronage with which the

work has been honoured since its commencement.

My reasons for undertaking a work comprising the Ornithology of the whole of Europe are
sufficiently obvious: in the first place, no publication of a similar kind had been completed,
although several had been commenced ; and secondly, a work exclusively confined to the British
Fauna would never be perfect for any length of time, owing to the frequent accession of other
species from various Kuropean localities ; besides which I was desirous of rendering my work
interesting to the continental ornithologist as well as to those of our own country. I have used
my best exertions to render it as perfect as possible up to the present time, for which purpose I
have visited nearly all the continental collections with the view of examining personally every
bird before figuring it; but should additional species reward the zeal and ardour with which
natural history is now cultivated (which I doubt not will be the case), I propose to publish
them from time to time in the form of a Supplement, and by this means keep the work as
nearly complete as possible. I have omitted a few of the species enumerated in the lists of
continental authors, in consequence either of my never having met with specimens of the

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