14 PREFACE TO 



chased, which proved to be compilations of matter, valu- 

 able, indeed, in the hands of an editor practically ac- 

 quainted with his subject ; but these works are full of 

 errors, grossly evident even to learners, and of contra- 

 dictions that must strike any attentive reader, even 

 though he had never seen a feathered creature in his life. 



But a student is sometimes the best teacher of any 

 branch of knowledge, as far as he has himself advanced 

 in it, because he has a fresh recollection of the ques- 

 tions which gave him the most trouble to solve ; and 

 therefore notes were made, mentally, and on paper, from 

 time to time. It was afterwards encouragingly sug- 

 gested that the publication of them might be ventured 

 upon, as being possibly acceptable to people requiring 

 such information. They were offered to the editor of the 

 Grardener's Chronicle, readily accepted, favourably re- 

 ceived by the readers of that valuable paper a class of 

 persons whose good opinion I must think it an honour 

 to have obtained and the reader now holds in his hands 

 the entire results of my present experience in that de- 

 partment of Natural History, in addition to what has 

 been already published in the Agricultural G-azette. It 

 is hoped that the need of some attempt of the kind, from 

 some quarter, will conciliate a lenient criticism of the 

 many errors and deficiencies with which the author may 

 doubtless be chargeable, whatever pains he may have 

 taken to guard against them. 



Poultry has been too much undervalued as a means 

 of study and a field of observation. Insignificant, and, 

 to us, valueless wild animals, brought from a distance, 

 about whose history and habits we can learn little or no- 

 thing, are received with respectful attention by men of 

 education and ability, are embalmed in spirits, treasured 



