Excerpt from Bird Life Stories, Vol. 1: Compiled From the Writings of Audubon, Bend Nuttall, and Wilson
HE four writers from whom the chapters in these Bird Life Stories have been drawn are especially notable for the absorb ing interest with which they pursued the study of birds. They were all original investigators, exploring the trackless wilderness in their search for knowledge. Especially was this true of Audubon and Wilson, who laid the foundations of the science of ornithology in America, but it was also true to a less extent of Nuttall and Bendire. This interest which our authors brought to their work has of course been communicated to their writings, so that their accounts of our birds are on the whole the most interesting that have ever been published. In the books of this series I have tried to select for each of the chosen birds that account which seemed the best. I have modified the language and punctuation only so far as was necessary to shorten some sentences, and to render clear the meaning of others. Occasion ally I have omitted parts which had no special modern interest or which our laterknowledge has shown to be incorrect. In this work of revision, as well as in the preparation of the additional notes, I have had the assistance of Mr. Ralph Hoficmann, lecturer on ornithology for the Massackusetts Audubon Society, and Dr. Ned Dearborn of the Field Columbia Museum, Chicago, both expert ornithologists who are thoroughly conversant with the most recent developments of the science. The specimens shown in the colored plates were collected and mounted by Doctor. Dearborn expressly for this work, and the colored plates themselves have been made under his supervision. To both of these gentlemen I am glad to express my hearty thanks, as well as to the officers of the Smithsonian Institution, for permission to use such of the writings of the late Major Bendire as I desired.
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