PREFACE. 



.Every additional Volume which appears of the Magazine of 

 Natural History bears evidence of the increasing taste for pur- 

 suits of this kind in the reading world, as well as of the augment- 

 ation of our readers and correspondents. 



The present Volume, among other valuable information, con- 

 tains notices of various new cheap publications on the subject of 

 Natural History ; the sale of which, to such an extent as to remu- 

 nerate the publishers, maybe considered as an undoubted evidence 

 that a taste for this science has pervaded all ranks. It is gratify- 

 ing to us to reflect that we have been among the first to rouse 

 this dormant love of nature and truth ; and still more so, to look 

 forward to the influence which a love of nature, simple truth, and 

 matters of fact, must one day have on the general state of society. 

 The first symptom of the decline of superstition, and of a blind 

 reverence for whatever has the sanction of antiquity, is the 

 incipient desire of examining the tangible objects which sur- 

 round us. The first taste of mankind is for fables ; the last, for 

 matters of fact. As the spread of a taste for natural history all 

 over the world interferes with no political or religious interest, 

 it is already making rapid strides towards that desirable period, 

 when, in the figurative language of the Bible, the knowledge of 

 the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas. 



In thanking our contributors for the continued assistance which 

 they afford us, we have at the same time to apologise for the 

 tardiness with which some of their communications are inserted, 

 and for the abridgment of others. The truth is, that so abundant 

 is our supply of materials relating to the delightful subjects which 

 our work embraces, that we could, with the greatest facility, as 

 far as matter is concerned, bring out this Magazine twice as often 

 as it now appears. 



J. C. L. 



Bay&walcr % Oct. 16. 1833. 



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