iv PREFACE. 



rapidly, especially in the first two classes, the Mammals and 

 Birds, that it was found necessary to conclude at the Insects, 

 and even then to give but an exceedingly short and meagre 

 account of them. This was much regretted, as my experience 

 had lain so much in the practical entomological part of Nat- 

 ural History, that during the earlier stages of the work I looked 

 forward with some pleasure to giving a very much fuller ac- 

 count of the British Insects than will be found in the -last few 

 pages of this volume. 



In arrangement, the order of the Catalogue of the British 

 Museum has been followed, with the view of rendering it a 

 useful companion to that most valuable collection, especially 

 ibr younger visitors. It has therefore been considered advis- 

 able to commence the volume with a sketch of the theories re- 

 specting the different races of humanity, and at the same time 

 to mention a few of the distinctions which so widely separate 

 man from any other inhabitant of the earth. 



As for the Illustrations, they will best speak for themselves. 

 It will, however, be well to observe that they have all been de- 

 signed expressly for the present work ; and the abilities of the 

 artist and engravers, are a guarantee for their accuracy and 

 perfect execution. For the anatomical and microscopical vig- 

 nettes, I am myself answerable, as well as for several of the 

 later drawings, such as the Thorny "Woodcock-shell, the Leaf 

 Insect, the Rove Beetle, together with parts of a few others, 

 all of which were drawn from actual specimens. 



It has been an object in the accounts of each animal, to give 

 as far as possible new anecdotes. In many cases, the anec- 

 dotes related have never been published before, and in many 

 more, they have been extracted from works which, either 

 from their scarcity, their cost, or their nature, would be very 

 unlikely to be placed in the hanSs of general readers. 



I dismiss these pages with almost a feeling of regret, that a 



