The PREFACE.

animals and Plants in their proper Colours, than from the most exact Description without them: Wherefore I have been less prolix Wordy or lengthy. in the Description, judging it unnecessary to tire the Reader with describing every Feather, yet I hope sufficient to distinguish them without Confusion.

As to the Plants I have given them the English and Indian Referring to Native American names. Names they are known by in these Countries: And for the Latin Names I was beholden to the above-mention'd Learned and accurate Botanist Dr. Sherard William Sherard (1659–1728), a world-renowned botanist who helped organize Catesby's expedition..

Very few of the Birds having Names assign'd them in the Country, except some which had Indian Names; I have call'd them after European Birds of the same Genus, with an additional Epithet to distinguish them. As the Males of the Feather'd Kind (except a very few) are more elegantly colour'd than the Females, I have throughout exhibited the Cocks only, except two or three; and have added a short Description of the Hens, wherein they differ in colour from the Cocks, the want of which Method has caused great Confusion in works of this Nature.

Of the Paints, particularly Greens, used in the Illumination The process of hand-coloring the printed engravings. of Figures, I had principally a regard to those most resembling Nature, that were durable and would retain their Lustre, rejecting others very specious and shining, but of an unnatural Colour and fading Quality: Yet give me leave to observe there is no Degree of Green but what some Plants are possess'd of at different Times of the Year, and the same Plant changes it's Colour gradually with it's Age, for in the Spring the Woods and all Plants in General are more Yellow and bright, and as the Summer advances the Greens grow deeper, and the nearer their Fall are yet of a more dark and dirty Colour. What I infer from this is that by comparing a Painting with a living Plant, the difference of Colour, if any may proceed from the above-mention'd Cause.

As to the French Translation I am oblig'd to a very ingenious Gentleman, a Doctor of Physick, and a French-man born, whose Modesty will not permit me to mention his Name.

where I had first planned to have my designs engraved. original: "ou j'avois projetté d'abord de faire graver mes Desseins." This continues from the previous page's mention of seeking engravers in Holland or France. Finally, encouraged by the good advice and instructions of that inimitable painter Mr. Joseph Goupy A famous French-born painter and engraver active in London, known for his work with Handel and the Prince of Wales., I familiarized myself with the manner of engraving, and undertook to do it myself; and although I did not follow the method of engravers, which is to cross-hatch lines original: "hacher les traits." A technique where intersecting lines create shading., preferring instead to follow the stroke of the feathers—which requires more labor—I flatter myself that my manner has succeeded better for my design.

It is so necessary for the proper understanding of Natural History to color the designs representing any part of it, that I am certain one will form a better idea of Plants and Animals by seeing them represented with their natural colors, than by the most exact description without the help of figures. This is why I have been less extensive in my descriptions, and I believed it was useless to tire the reader by dwelling on every feather in particular; however, I hope I have said enough to distinguish them without confusion.

I have given the Plants the English and Indian names by which they are known in those countries, and Dr. Sherard, that learned and exact botanist, had the kindness to provide me with the Latin names.

As there are few birds in the country that have specific names, except some which have Indian names, I have given them those of European birds of the same species, with an epithet that distinguishes them. In all my work, I have represented and described only the males of each species of bird, because generally their colors are more beautiful than those of the females—except for two or three examples where I have added a short description of the female and the colors that distinguish her from the male. By neglecting this method, many errors have crept into works of this genre.

In the choice of colors, and particularly the greens, for coloring the plates, I have especially taken care to use those which most closely approach nature, which are the most durable, and best preserve their luster; and I have rejected others, though brilliant and attractive, which were unnatural and of a quality that soon fades. However, let me be permitted to remark that there is no shade of green that some plants are not colored with at different times of the year, and the same plant changes its color as it ages; for in the spring the woods and all plants in general are more yellow and more brilliant, and as summer advances, the green becomes deeper, and toward the time of the fall, it is even darker and duller. From this I conclude that the difference in color, if any is found when comparing a living plant with its representation, may proceed from the cause mentioned above.

As for the French translation, one of my friends, a Doctor of Medicine and a Frenchman, was kind enough to take the trouble, on the condition that he would not be named.