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PREFACE. 



The adoption of the title Natural History of Ireland for this 

 work, of which the Birds only are announced for early publica- 

 tion, requires some explanation. The Zoology of Ireland, — on 

 nearly every branch of which the author has matter almost ready 

 ^,*for the press, — would, it must be admitted, have been more strictly 

 ** correct, as little else than that portion of the general subject is 

 ^ intended to be comprised in the work. It is, however, to be 

 hoped that the name selected, may not be considered too pre- 

 N sumptuous. 



' The volumes on Birds are put forward merely as supplementary 

 to the several excellent works already published on British Ornitho- 

 logy. Hence it is unnecessary to enter into a description of the 

 "' form or plumage, or into a general history of each species, these 

 .; subjects having been amply treated of in the publications alluded 

 ~ to. The whole economy of the species, however, though not 

 always dwelt upon, will be often fully illustrated from original 

 observation. 



Figures of Irish birds are not required, as all the species are 

 _ included, down to the period of publication (to mention British 

 ^works only) in Selby's Illustrations of British Ornithology; 

 ^ Gould's Birds of Europe ; and the History of British Birds by 

 "n Bewick, and Yarrell, respectively. Coloured figures of many of 

 the species are also given in Sir Wm. Jardine's work on British 



4 VOL. I. A 



