vi INTRODUCTION. . 



1,,-t in tin- ni.ulit <>f antiquity; tlio peacock, whose date we cannot trace; the turkey, sole 

 domesticated product of the Nc\v World, introduced in 1524; the musk-duck, in lu'50; the 

 rolden pheasant, in 17 :.'.'>; tlie silver pheasant, in 1740; the ring-necked pheasant; and the 

 guinea-fowl. And yet if has lic.-n estimated that 230 species of birds are actually inhabitants 

 of sufficiently temperate regions to admit of their being more or less acclimatised in Europe. 

 They are all eminently susceptible .of living in confinement, and, what is of special importance, 

 prolific and eatable. We can promise our readers, therefore, not only details of great interest, 

 but even of national importance, in our forthcoming Volume, which will be appropriated to 

 BIRDS. 



