In issuing this edition the Author begs leave to tender his sincere
thanks, firstly, to the public whose rapid purchase of an unusually
large impression has enabled him to issue the present greatly
enlarged, and, he hopes he may add, improved edition; secondly, to
his brother amateurs to whom he is indebted for so many suggestions
and so much valuable assistance; thirdly, to his reviewers, all
of whom have spoken so favourably of his efforts to impart sound
practical common sense, in place of the gross absurdities, which,
it is not too much to say, previously disfigured all the low-priced
poultry works; to the distinguished naturalist who did him the honour
to give a lengthened review of the work in Fraser’s Magazine (Dec.
1853), he gladly takes this opportunity of expressing his thanks, as
he is personally unknown. The present is distinguished from the last
edition by the extension of such parts as were previously meagre; a
table of the constituents of food has been added, which it is hoped
may prove useful; a longer account of several varieties has been
given, and the chapter on diseases has been considerably enlarged,
and several new remedies indicated.
_Willesden, Midsummer, 1854._
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