ORNITHOLOGY. 



NATURAL HISTORY 



OP 

 GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



THIS order contains a part of the feathered creation, 

 which is hy far the most useful in the domestic 

 economy of man. The Jungle-cock, better known 

 in its reclaimed state as the Barn-door Fowl, the 

 Turkey, Peacock, and Guinea-fowl, the extensive 

 race of Pigeons, and the various birds known as 

 Game, all fall under it, and administer to his taste 

 and wants ; and whether as wholesome and grate- 

 ful articles of food, adornments to his abode, his 

 dress, or draperies, or a solace to his body when 

 weary, they are universally esteemed, and by almost 

 all nations are reared and domesticated for their 

 various uses. We propose, therefore, to devote more 

 space to the history of these birds than might perhaps 

 be the real proportion in the extent we had marked 

 out in this work, and the present volume will be 

 confined to a single family of this important group. 



