PREFACE. 



My sole object in writing this work was to inspire and 

 extend to the utmost of my power a taste for natural sci- 

 ence. 



I should feel pleased were this study to be looked upon 

 as the entrance of the temple in which lie hidden the mys- 

 terious splendors of Nature, and if it were the means of in- 

 spiring some with a desire to penetrate into the sanctuary 

 itself, and uplift the veil which conceals them, my labors 

 will bear good fruit. 



By the title which I have adopted, my intention was 

 merely to indicate that I had gathered from creation at 

 large, often contrasting the smallest of its productions with 

 the mightiest. 



I have gleaned everywhere, to show that Nature every- 

 where affords matter for interesting observations. The ani- 

 mal and the vegetable worlds, the earth and the heavens, 

 appear by turns upon the scene. 



Those who are interested by this compendious series of 

 sketches and of pictures will find more complete details in 



