PEEFACE. 



BEING, for years, an extensive amateur keeper of fine 

 Poultry, Pheasants, &c., as well as all the various sorts 

 of British water-fowl, which gradually led to a very 

 general collection, it occurred to me, that my predilection 

 might be made useful to society, and less expensive to 

 myself, by offering duplicates for sale, by which means, I 

 have been enabled to further increase my stock, and 

 obtain, from personal observation, such information as to 

 their importation, keeping, breeding, rearing and general 

 management, as may'be of use to the public ; and having 

 been encouraged, by the approbation of the London 

 Zoological Society, who have awarded me many pre- 

 miums, in competition with all England, Ireland, and 

 Scotland, and been most successful, at all the Poultry 

 Shows, in Ireland, at which I have exhibited, I beg leave 

 to give the public the advantage of my practical ex- 

 perience, and am 



Their obedient servant, 



JAMES JOSEPH NOLAN. 

 Bachelor's-walk, Dublin, 



