PREFACE 



The First Volume of the Magazine of Natural History is submitted 

 to its readers, as a fair specimen of what that Periodical is intended 

 to be ; subject, however, to such improvements as may, from time 

 to time, suggest themselves to its Conductor, 



The Introduction (p. 1.) describes the objects it proposes to 

 embrace: — 1. A more general diffusion of a knowledge of Ani- 

 mals, Vegetables, and Minerals, technically and physiologically ; 

 of their commixture and disposition under the earth's surface, or 

 Geology; and their disposition over it in the atmosphere, as Land- 

 scape scenery. 2. A record of discoveries in these branches of 

 knowledge ; and of the actual state and progress of the taste for 

 Natural History, in different parts of the British empire, and 

 throughout the world. 3. A summary of the progress of discovery 

 in natural science during the past year. 



In conformity with these objects, original communications, in- 

 troductory to Linnean Botany, will be found, p. 124*. 228. and 

 429. ; to Jussieuean Botany, p. 30. 135. 238. and 333. ; to Zoology, 

 p. 97. and 309. ; to Ornithology, p. 121. ; to Entomology, p. 421. ; 

 to Geology, p. 249. and 442. ; to Meteorology, p. 147. ; and to 

 Landscape scenery, p. 37. and 242. Of new facts or theories, it is 

 not to be supposed that many can have occurred, or come to our 

 knowledge, since this Magazine has been in existence ; but the 

 discoveries of Professor Nees von Esenbeck, M. Franz Unger, and 

 others, on the Metamorphoses of the Reproductive Bodies of some 

 yllgae, p. 306. ; the researches of Mr. Brown, M. Brongniart, and 

 M. Raspail, on the particles of the Pollen of Plants, and on the 

 ultimate particles of matter in general, p. 473. ; and of Dr. Mar- 

 tins, on the Structure of Plants, p. 475. ; have been recorded, or 

 noticed, preparatory to more complete details. 



The Miscellaneous Intelligence and Collectanea of this Maga- 

 zine (see Contents, p. vi.) contain a various assemblage of original 

 communications, and extracts from published works, detailing the 

 local state and progress of Natural History in the different coun- 

 ties and cities of Britain, in North and South America, in Australia, 



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