PREFACE. 



PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. 



IN regard to the completion of the Fourth Edition of the ' Micrographic 

 Dictionary/ few remarks seem necessary. It may be stated, that the work 

 has been thoroughly revised. The systematic portions of the Animal and 

 Vegetable Kingdoms have been re-arranged according to modern views, as 

 far as is consistent with reference to existing standard treatises and mono- 

 graphs of the individual subjects. The structural portions have also been 

 enlarged and corrected in relation to recent observations and experiments. 

 The very large number of new genera, founded especially by Kent, Brady, 

 and Buckton, have been noticed, but in many cases somewhat briefly, 

 especially when the objects are rare or not likely to be easily accessible. 

 Had this not been done, the work would have been extended beyond the pro- 

 posed limits ; the references to the original descriptions have, however, always 

 been appended. Five new plates and some new woodcuts have been added ; 

 and the former plates have been altered and corrected where found necessary. 

 The older nomenclature of the chemical substances is retained, according 

 to which these are usually known and purchased. We have to thank Mr. 

 Butley for his excellent plate and article on Bocks ; and Mr. Harkness, of 

 the Government Excise department, for his plate of Adulterations. The 

 articles on the Fungi and the Foraminifera have again been revised by the 

 Bev. M. J. Berkeley and Professor Biipert Jones. Our thanks must also 

 be given to Mr. M c Lachlan and the Bev. Mr. Leighton for some friendly 

 and valuable remarks. Nor must we fail to acknowledge the assistance 

 afforded by our publisher, in the loan of some of his expensive works ; and 

 the aid derived from the use of the magnificent Library of the Boyal 

 College of Surgeons, with the courtesy of the Librarian, Mr. Chatto. We 

 hope and trust that this Edition will be found as useful and interesting as 

 the three previous ones have surely been. 



J. W. G. 



December 26th, 1882. 



