"Amongst the beneficial improvements of modern times, few deserve higher estimation, than the increased attention to the education of children of all ranks; which is greatly facilitated by the number and variety of judicious books that have been written for their instruction and amusement. Nonsense has given way to reason; and useful knowledge, under an agreeable form, has usurped the place of the Histories of Tom Thumb, and Woglog the Giant. No branch of science seems better adapted to this important purpose, than natural history. The visible world presents a scene of novelty and delight, well calculated to engage the attention of the youthful mind . . ."

"Those blues of birds' eggs -- what inimitable tints they have, and no two blues alike! There is the true robin's-egg blue; and the dark metallic green-blue of the cat-bird; the pure, almost shining hue of the hermit-thrush, which seems of pale green and azure blended, hinting of both colors and belonging to neither; and the painted pea-green deepening fairly into blue, of the cuckoo; and I know not how many more, in shades innumerable, and no more to be defined than those of a cloud or flower."

This books consists of conversations between young Jenny and the various birds, including an owl and a fish-hawk, she encounters near her home.

"This Series of Juveniles consists of a number of volumes treating of the habits and peculiar characteristics of Birds and Quadrupeds in a manner interesting to children."

"To begin with. -- Dear possible Reader, -- This book makes no pretensions to be a scientific work. Indeed it is scrupulously otherwise. Long words are carefully left out; nothing is said of scientific classification, and very little of scientific names. It is merely a collection of sketches, telling what is interesting for any-one to know, about a few of the millions of creatures on our globe. It was written for little people, but will not be without interest to any-one who is curious about the ways of our little neighbors, and who does not already know too much about them."