11 



fie dictionaries, and her more learned acquaintances, 

 for the explanation of obscure terms. She was induced 

 at length to hope her exertions might extend to the 

 gratification of others of her sex, and give a direc- 

 tion to the delight and admiration so generally ex- 

 perienced on first visiting the coast, where all is 

 exhilarating and new, and where we feel inclined to 

 view every scattered object fresh imported from the 

 deep with curiosity and interest. 



No books are wanting in the beautiful department of 

 Marine Botany ; but any knowledge of Polypidoms, 

 (hitherto known under the general denomination of 

 Corals and Corallines, prior to M. Lamouroux's 

 Histoire, &c. if we except Ellis's Corallines, and 

 a subsequent work on Zoophytes, edited by Solander,) 

 had only been dispersed in the works of learned 

 men. 



If, therefore, in this selection, the Translator can 

 enable her countrywomen to decipher one more page 

 of lovely Nature, and, in retracing the wonders of 



